Once again Farquhar has become the focus of the budget shortfalls. I know if it great to right these puff pieces on how the schools are falling apart. Instead, some real investigative reporting might show how Farquhar is a perfect example of what is broken with the MCPS system. MCPS began the modernization process and an on-site modernization was in the CIP and well on its ways. It was a group of parents, operating as defacto land-use attorneys, civil engineers and mouthpieces for the county's citizens at large, that decided the school needed to be moved to a piece of property that wasn't, and still isn't owned by the BOE, MCPS or MNCPPC. In addition to needing to acquire the property, the topography and existing encumbrances have forced MCPS to force 20 acres worth of "stuff", into a 13 acre site. The site sits outside of the Water and Sewer Service Area, outside of the Priority Funding Area, outside of the ownership of any county or state agency and outside of practical and constructable. Yet these champions of the "kids" continue to push their, emphasis on their, cause forward. The delay is certainly partially related to funding, but it can also be contributed to the uncertainty surrounding their plan.
This process was started in early 2011, but, because of parental pressure, the site still has not been engineered, nothing but schematic architecture has been completed, the site has not has it Mandatory Review completed at PArk and Planning and the site is still not owned or controlled by MCPS/BOE!! In the meetings for the new design, the representative from MCPS has stated multiple times that an accurate budget still hasn't been developed and it is rocket science to know that it is going up. (Given the retaining walls and other site constraints, it would be easy to see it going up substantially!) If they had the funds today, this school couldn't break ground for years anyway..
Add to that the Mr. Song told the Public School Construction Program that adhering to State Law and submitting this site to the State as required by law was time consuming and, in simple words, he'd get to it when he felt like it. Could the reason for not submitting to the State be the fact that the proposed site is in a conservation easement, outside the water and sewer service area and not in Priority Funding Area? I'm sure MDP and MDE will have concerns with those items, but lets wait until we've spent millions, more to find out. The Executive Director of the PSCP stated that the State review need to be concluded prior to BOE taking possession of the property per the State law! Furthermore, without the State's blessing the school is not eligible for any State funds!!! (Again, it isn't eligible for any State funding!)
Maybe one reporter with the desire for an actual story would find it appropriate to look deeper into the root of the issues instead of simply being a mouth piece for the kids - I mean their parents..
The parents at Farquhar have made their own bed and now they want to play the role of the martyr. If they really wanted a new school, they should look at how their own demands have impacted timing and cost of the project.
Put this is modern America, we blame without taking any responsibility.
Once again Farquhar has become the focus of the budget shortfalls. I know if it great to right these puff pieces on how the schools are falling apart. Instead, some real investigative reporting might show how Farquhar is a perfect example of what is broken with the MCPS system. MCPS began the modernization process and an on-site modernization was in the CIP and well on its ways. It was a group of parents, operating as defacto land-use attorneys, civil engineers and mouthpieces for the county's citizens at large, that decided the school needed to be moved to a piece of property that wasn't, and still isn't owned by the BOE, MCPS or MNCPPC. In addition to needing to acquire the property, the topography and existing encumbrances have forced MCPS to force 20 acres worth of "stuff", into a 13 acre site. The site sits outside of the Water and Sewer Service Area, outside of the Priority Funding Area, outside of the ownership of any county or state agency and outside of practical and constructable. Yet these champions of the "kids" continue to push their, emphasis on their, cause forward. The delay is certainly partially related to funding, but it can also be contributed to the uncertainty surrounding their plan.
ReplyDeleteThis process was started in early 2011, but, because of parental pressure, the site still has not been engineered, nothing but schematic architecture has been completed, the site has not has it Mandatory Review completed at PArk and Planning and the site is still not owned or controlled by MCPS/BOE!! In the meetings for the new design, the representative from MCPS has stated multiple times that an accurate budget still hasn't been developed and it is rocket science to know that it is going up. (Given the retaining walls and other site constraints, it would be easy to see it going up substantially!) If they had the funds today, this school couldn't break ground for years anyway..
Add to that the Mr. Song told the Public School Construction Program that adhering to State Law and submitting this site to the State as required by law was time consuming and, in simple words, he'd get to it when he felt like it. Could the reason for not submitting to the State be the fact that the proposed site is in a conservation easement, outside the water and sewer service area and not in Priority Funding Area? I'm sure MDP and MDE will have concerns with those items, but lets wait until we've spent millions, more to find out. The Executive Director of the PSCP stated that the State review need to be concluded prior to BOE taking possession of the property per the State law! Furthermore, without the State's blessing the school is not eligible for any State funds!!! (Again, it isn't eligible for any State funding!)
Maybe one reporter with the desire for an actual story would find it appropriate to look deeper into the root of the issues instead of simply being a mouth piece for the kids - I mean their parents..
The parents at Farquhar have made their own bed and now they want to play the role of the martyr. If they really wanted a new school, they should look at how their own demands have impacted timing and cost of the project.
Put this is modern America, we blame without taking any responsibility.
"Put (sic) this is modern America, we blame without taking any responsibility."
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all the blame in your post, Mr. Anonymous.
So the facts aren't being contested, you just didn't like the closing?
ReplyDelete