Farquhar Middle School modernization: A parent's perspective.

On behalf of the Ashton, Sunshine, Sandy Spring, and Olney parents whose children will attend Farquhar Middle School (FMS) I would like to thank the MCPS staff for their work on the FMS Modernization effort. We parents were initially very excited to hear that the much needed FMS modernization feasibility study was underway. This excitement quickly dissipated to dread and united opposition to the (seemingly preferred) options that would require bussing students 1 hour and 10 minutes each way to the Tilden Holding Center. What has transpired over the last four months is a refreshing example of government and community working together to find solutions that truly meet the students’ needs while being sensitive to the greater community. We are again excited with the recommended options that bring a needed modernized middle school with an additional park to the community.

Driven by the knowledge and scientific evidence of the direct and indirect negative impacts of long duration bussing the parents worked very hard with MCPS staff to identify and explore many options looking for innovative solutions. These included solutions that would allow students to remain on-site during construction through technology alternatives and placement of structures to help meet the aggressive Gold LEED standard that MCPS desired to be achieved. It seemed that road block after road block was discovered with stream beds, geo-thermal system requirements, roofing requirements, and the like. We also investigated options that would send the students to other facilities. This included other near by elementary schools, high schools, alternative buildings that are planned to be put in the MCPS inventory for holding centers, splitting the children up among the local middle schools, and even using privately owned school building. All to no avail, each option was assessed by MCPS staff and deemed not feasible or as having too many constraints compared to the Tilden option; further, many parents did not want delays to the modernization so options that pushed the schedule to the right were not palatable.

This left parents very concerned and even more dedicated to finding a good option for the children. It is well known that land along Batchellor’s Forest Road is planned for development so questions as to the plot next to FMS were raised. It was discovered that (in accordance with the Olney Master Plan, 2005) the land is to be dedicated to Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), for use as an active park. The idea of a land-swap was brought to life.

The land-swap option uses land directly adjacent to the existing Farquhar to build the new Farquhar. The existing Farquhar site, upon completion of the new school, would then become the new park. Some have suggested that this option “clearly violates” the 2005 Olney Master Plan; however, it would seem that providing the Olney community an active park with ballfields is consistent with the intent of the Master Plan and delivers on an identified community need that will not likely be achieved in the near future given today’s fiscal constraints. In fact, page 28 of the plan states:

“ Analysis of recreation resources in Olney, included in the Park and Trail Analysis for the Olney Planning Area, indicates that three additional ballfields are needed in the area. The (see the Parks and Recreation Chapter) 17.4-acre portion of the property is appropriate for ballfields and possibly other active recreation since it is clear with no significant environmental features, and can share its ballfields and parking area with the adjoining middle school site. Access to the ballfields should be from the Old Vic Boulevard extended and through the middle school property.”

MCPS has taken the idea of the land-swap and developed two options that are deemed feasible as documented in the [Draft]  July 2011 FMS Modernization Feasibility Study report. One option is a two story building preferred by the FAC and the other is a three story building preferred by MCPS staff. Developing these options with MCPS staff has been in the spirit of cooperation and democracy that our community aspires to and MCPS is meeting M-NCPPC’s criteria of equal or greater value in a trade with a lot that is 18% larger. Community benefits associated with the land-swap include established amenities, such as ball fields and tennis courts frequented by the community, as well as a parking lot that can also be used during Farquhar events to reduce parking issues on Batchellor’s Forest Road. Furthermore, M-NCPPC and the community will likely have use of a park sooner given the limited budget we are dealing with and cost savings associated with a partially established park. MCPS will also save money by not having a dedicated bus route to the Tilden Holding Center. We are using all our precious resources wisely.

The development and analysis of these options demonstrates the positive outcome that can be achieved in an open and participatory working group. The FMS modernization process has been an example of successful collaboration between the school system and the community. The FAC Committee held publicized open meetings beginning in March 2011, which were well attended by parents and community members. This provided opportunity to address a multitude of suggestions and alternatives from both MCPS staff and the community. The community submitted suggestions and alternative options that were responded to by MCPS staff, presented, and posted online for the community to read and respond.

The resultant recommendations deliver to the Olney community a needed park with existing ballfield and protect “rural open space” and the “low-density character of the Southeast Quadrant”. It is clear that the land-swap options (both the 2-story and the 3-story) are the best option for Farquhar modernization, because only they option meet all of the following community needs:

• Keep kids & families in the community during modernization, avoiding LONG bus rides to Bethesda,
• Avoid $1.5 million in transportation costs,
• Maintain the rural feel of the school’s road – the new building can stay two stories vs. three for an “on-site” option, and
• Jump-start the building of a planned park in Olney – one that will have fields, tennis courts, or even possibly a gym ready-made, saving taxpayer dollars on park construction

Many in our community including, the following, endorse the land-swap:

• homeowners Associations located within the Farquhar Middle School boundary,
• all PTAs from the feeder elementary schools and Farquhar Middle School,
• the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board,
• State Senator Karen Montgomery, District 14,
• State Delegate Anne Kaiser, District 14,and
• State Senator Roger Manno, District 19.

Certainly, details will need to be worked out to ensure that the implementation (i.e., access to the school, traffic flow, etc…) conforms to the Master plan and the concerns of SEROCA and the local residents are addressed.

It is not often that a parent’s group can publicly thank MCPS, so I am particularly thrilled to be able to do. MCPS staff was open in dialog with the community and addressed our concerns through modernization feasibility study process.

Jennifer McKneely
Member of Future Farquhar Community Coalition and Sherwood Elementary School Parent