Adds two portable classrooms at College Gardens without permission
by Sean Patrick Norris | Staff Writer Gazette, Wednesday Oct. 20, 2010
Public schools Superintendent Jerry D. Weast told Rockville he is installing two portable classrooms at College Gardens Elementary School whether the city likes it or not.To read the rest of this article, CLICK HERE.
In a letter sent Sept. 23 to the mayor and City Council, Weast said Montgomery County Public Schools is above Rockville law.
"MCPS is not obligated to comply with the regulations of a local jurisdiction, such as Rockville's APFO," Weast wrote, referring to the city's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. "Please be advised that we are exercising our right not to comply."
The Gazette article indicates that although the portables are not yet operational MCPS “moved them into place at the northwest corner of the school.” By my read this installation of structures that are intended for occupancy was an activity that constituted redevelopment of the College Gardens school site in violation of Rockville’s Adequate Public Facilities Standards.
ReplyDeleteThe assertion that MCPS is exempt from Rockville’s safety standards is ridiculous! Weast should be grateful for Ms. Swift’s generous interpretation of the Rockville Code, when the law seems to give her the option of treating the entire school site as a redevelopment violation until the portables are removed from the site.