Guest Post: Please Name Gaithersburg Elementary School #8 "Dutch" Kelley Elementary School

March 30, 2022

Good afternoon members of the Board of Education

Thank you for recognizing the needs of the five communities surrounding Kelley Park, by making both Gaithersburg Elementary School as well as Forest Oak Middle School accessible to our children. You listened to us when evaluating the competing border boundaries!

 

We welcome Dr. Cavena J. Griffeth in her new role as Principal. I look forward to personally meeting with her.

 

I am writing as a homeowner, and as a Friend of Kelley Park to ask that you consider naming the new school ‘Dutch’ Kelley Elementary School. While I know that the name “Kelley Park Elementary School” is under consideration as well as the names of two minority cultural heroes, I believe that the five neighborhoods surrounding the Park would be better served by naming the school for the local hero that made the park a place for children and families to grow, play and enjoy.

 

Kelley Park was designed by George R. “Dutch” Kelley, the former civil engineer for the City of Gaithersburg. He did so with two important commitments in mind—maintaining available open space and his reverence of nature. His ultimate goal was ensuring that the residents of our growing city enjoyed the highest possible quality of life while reflecting the needs of the families surrounding the Park. The Park was named for Mr. Kelley after his death in October 1986. People from across the region came to use the ball and soccer fields; volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts; children’s play equipment; as well as enjoy the opportunity to commune with nature and meet new friends.

 

Dutch Kelley made a measurable impact on the local community. What better way to recognize his contributions than name the school in “his” park “Dutch” Kelley Elementary School? Our children need local heroes who exemplify positive behaviors which benefit the community around them as well as hope. Dutch Kelley gave Gaithersburg residents both.

 

Please name the school “Dutch” Kelley Elementary School.

 

Lynn A. Nash

Gaithersburg, MD

Lynn A. Nash, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC, FAAN

Tues. Jan. 12th: Superintendent Jack Smith Will Hide $1.3M in Gifts to the City of Gaithersburg from the Board of Education.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, Superintendent Jack R. Smith will present the Montgomery County Board of Education with a memorandum demanding that they vote to pay for gifts to the City of Gaithersburg.  Superintendent Smith will tell the Board of Education that they MUST give these gifts to the City in exchange for the City handing over land for a new elementary school.  

But, the City of Gaithersburg has already handed over the Deed to this land "free of charge."  

On December 3, 2020, the Board of Education already  voted to accept the Deed without having to pay anything for the land.  

Yet, on January 12th, Superintendent Jack Smith will tell the Board of Education they now must buy gifts, specifically an artificial turf football field and baseball field bleachers, for the City of Gaithersburg in order to get the Deed to the City of Gaithersburg land for the new elementary school. 

Why did Superintendent Jack R. Smith hide these gifts from the Board of Education when they voted to accept this "free" land? 

Further, why does Superintendent Jack R. Smith's January 12th memo only list the cost for two of the seven gifts he has already promised to the City of Gaithersburg in exchange for this Deed? 

Here is what Superintendent Jack R. Smith committed to buy for the City of Gaithersburg according to the Land Acquisition Agreement that he signed:  

• County Board must pay for the cost and expense of all off-site easements. (Unknown total cost)

• County Board must pay for design and construction of an artificial turf field up to $800,000.

•  County Board must pay for the rough grade of the field, storm drainage and a sub base for the artificial turf field. ( average cost of grading, storm drainage and sub base in 2020 is $320,000)

• County Board is required to pay up to 25% for the future replacement of the artificial turf field (Unknown cost – Average cost of artificial turf football field surface in 2021 is $400,000. 25% of that cost in 2021 would be $100,000.  Future cost of artificial turf surface is unknown at this time.  

• County Board must pay for new, additional bleachers for the City of Gaithersburg. $26,000

• County Board must pay for 5 parking spaces dedicated to the City park visitors. (Approximate cost could be $10,000.)

• County Board must pay for a City tot lot. [Approximate cost $100,000 based on cost of recent City of Gaithersburg tot lot project.

The approximate current and future cost of the items that the Board of Education must pay in exchange for the "free" Deed from the City of Gaithersburg is $1,356,000. 

How does $1,356,000 = free of charge? 

Where is Superintendent Smith getting $1,356,000 from in the MCPS Operating Budget to pay for these gifts to the City of Gaithersburg? 

MD State Board of Education Rules on Land for Gaithersburg ES #8: "...conveyance of ownership of the parcel is free of charge."

On October 27, 2020, the Maryland State Board of Education issued an Opinion to an Appeal of the Land Acquisition Agreement relating to the construction of Gaithersburg Elementary School #8, brought to the Board of Education by Superintendent Jack R. Smith.  The Appeal was filed by interested parties that are concerned about the loss of their only local park.  The interested parties would like to preserve their local park and have encouraged the Board of Education to build a new elementary school on existing Board of Education land that is currently vacant. 

It is notable that in their Opinion the Maryland State Board of Education has referred to this land deal as "free of charge," while at the exact same time Superintendent Jack R. Smith is demanding the Board of Education expend almost $2 million in gifts to the City of Gaithersburg in exchange for this park. 

The Maryland State Board of Education concluded their Opinion by stating:

Regardless, the land agreement specifies that the conveyance of ownership of the parcel is free of charge. As no funds were exchanged in the agreement, this argument lacks merit.

The Maryland State Board of Education denied the Appeal, however, four MD State Board of Education members dissented from the decision, and two members abstained.   

 http://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/legalopinions/2020/102020/Nash-et-al.Op.No.20-41.pdf