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
