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

@mcps Int. Super. McKnight wants to Renew Cell Tower Lease for Company that hasn't paid Property Taxes since 2015, owes $36,410.53 in Back Taxes.

Did Montgomery County Interim Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight do any due diligence when she told the Board of Education to enter into a 20 year lease for a cell tower compound on the Woodwards Road Future School site?  

Every cell tower located on Board of Education land must have a property tax identification number. 

The ID number for the SBA Communications cell tower on the Woodwards Road Future School site land is 16-09-03696820. This is the lease that the Interim Superintendent wants the Board of Education to approve.  

https://www.scribd.com/document/521396491/MCPS-Telecommunication-Facility-Locations-on-public-school-land

When we check the Property Tax ID for the current SBA lease on the Woodwards Road Future School site we find property tax records that show that the last time the property taxes were paid on that lease was in 2015. 

It appears the current past due property taxes for the lease that the MCPS Interim Superintendent wants the Board of Education to approve totals  $36,410.53. 

https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/realpropertytax/

FIB #2: Interim Superintendent says Cell Tower Lease would not impact long term planning of school site. But it already has!

On August 24, 2021, the Montgomery County Board of Education will be presented with a Memorandum from Monifa B. McKnight, Interim Superintendent of Schools. The Memorandum starts out with a fib and continues on to end with a fib:

WHEREAS, Staff in the Department of Facilities Management believe a new telecommunication lease with SBA Communications Corporation, under specific renewal terms, would not impact the current use or long-term planning of the Woodwards Road future school site;

We know that "WHEREAS" paragraph is false because the use of this empty future elementary school site as a cell tower compound has already prevented the land from being used for an elementary school at least three times.  

Here is one example from 2011:  The cell tower leases took priority over the classroom needs of Montgomery County Public School students and caused the Woodwards Road Future School site to be passed over as the location for a much needed elementary school. [Cell tower compound shown in red circle in image at left. Image shows entire Woodwards Road Future School site.]

...The Woodwards Road Elementary School property would require access  from Emory Grove Road, the road frontage of which is limited. This factor could limit the number of driveway curb cuts for optimum vehicular circulation.  The site is leased to four telecommunications companies and one utility company. Further study would be needed to determine whether there would be adequate space for the existing telecommunications operations to continue operations on the site...

 https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2011/12/cell-tower-compound-prevents-use-of.html

The cell tower leases also kept the Woodwards Road Future School site from being used for an elementary school last year.  Instead of using their existing, dedicated, paid for, elementary school site the Board of Education paid over $1 million dollars to the City of Gaithersburg to get them to tear down a neighborhood park for an elementary school.  Kelly Park is right down the road from the Woodwards Road Future School site.  

Kelley Park in the City of Gaithersburg was destroyed so that the Woodwards Road Future School site could remain a cell tower compound for the use of private companies.  

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

Jack Smith Spending $2 Million Dollars +/- without Board of Education Vote, Tells Board Deal is "No Cost." Why the Fib? Shouldn't Board Know Truth?

Is the Kelley Park land "deal" just a way for the City of Gaithersburg to get an artificial turf football field out of the MCPS Operating Budget?  

Today, December 3, 2020, MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith will once again bring a land deal before the Montgomery County Board of Education without disclosing that the deal will actually cost the MCPS Operating Budget upwards of  $2 million dollars.

Superintendent Jack Smith is once again telling the Board of Education that the land deal with the City of Gaithersburg  is "no cost." 

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BVNLDS557909/$file/Gaithersburg%20ES8%20Deed%20Acceptance.pdf

Yet, as the Parents' Coalition has shown, the contract for the transfer of this very small parcel of land to be used for an elementary school actually comes with a lot of costs.  Included in the contract for the transfer of this land are the following costs required to be paid for by the Board of Education.   

    • MCPS must pay for the cost and expense of all off-site easements.

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

    • MCPS must pay for the rough grade of the field, storm drainage and a sub base for the artificial turf field.

    • MCPS is required to pay up to 25% for the future replacement of the artificial turf field. [25% of future replacement could be upwards of $250,000.]

    • MCPS must pay for new, additional bleachers for the City of Gaithersburg baseball field. 

    • MCPS must pay for 5 parking spaces dedicated to the City park visitors 24 hours a day. 

    • MCPS must pay for a City tot lot.

This "deal" for an elementary school site will only provide MCPS with land for a school building. The elementary school will not have any playground area outside of the school.  All of the land around the elementary school will be owned and controlled by the City of Gaithersburg.  

It is perplexing as to why Superintendent Jack Smith would agree to a land deal that robs elementary school children of dedicated play ground land when he could be building an elementary school right down the street on a 100% paid for and dedicated elementary public school site that would provide room for a school and dedicated play ground.

Here is the Land Deal that Superintendent Jack Smith signed that requires the Board of Education to fund upwards of $2 Million Dollars in gifts to the City of Gaithersburg.  This is the deal that he is telling the Board of Education is "no cost." 

2020 June Land Acquisition ... by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

MCPS might extend timeline of boundary study for new Gaithersburg elementary school #GiftsforGaithersburg #HiddenPerks #Teacher$$forCityGifts

 A boundary study to determine which students will attend a new elementary school in Gaithersburg might last longer as Montgomery County Public Schools grapples with what it hopes is a temporary decline in enrollment due to COVID-19.

In April, the school district began a routine boundary study after authorizing the construction of a new elementary school in the city, intended to relieve crowding at several schools.

The new school will sit on a 6-acre section of Kelley Park, on Victory Farm Drive, and have space for about 740 students.

The $26 million project is expected to be completed in September 2022...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-might-extend-timeline-of-boundary-study-for-new-gaithersburg-elementary-school/

PCMC NOTE:  The school project project is actually more like $28 Million because MCPS is throwing in an artificial turf football field, bleachers, a tot lot and lighting for the City of Gaithersburg. Gifts to the City that the Board of Education never voted on. Superintendent Jack Smith is just a giver. Why not give gifts to the City of Gaithersburg during a pandemic when education funding is already stressed? No worries for Jack Smith. He had an extra $2 Million sitting in a drawer.

MCPS Board of Education Taking Down 55 Trees at Gaithersburg City Park

As a reminder, the Montgomery County Board of Education owns a dedicated, paid for, elementary school site right down the road from the City of Gaithersburg Kelley Park.  But, instead of using the land that they own, the Board of Education is going to build an elementary school on a City of Gaithersburg Park.  This plan has the Board of Education paying over $1.5 MILLION Operating Budget (teacher salary) dollars to the City of Gaithersburg for an artificial turf football field, bleachers, lights and a tot lot.  

The Board of Education could build a school on their own land and they wouldn't have to pay a thing to the City of Gaithersburg.  But this plan provides a way for the City of Gaithersburg to take in $1.5 MILLION dollars from the MCPS Operating Budget.  

And this Plan is going forward, even during a Global Pandemic where MCPS students are struggling to learn through virtual platforms.  The Board of Education does not have any problem handing over $1.5 MILLION to the City of Gaithersburg, even during a Global Pandemic.  

-----

On Saturday, October 17, 2020, the residents of the Kelley Park neighborhoods will say good-bye to the 55 TREES that the Montgomery County Board of Education will be taking from the local park.  

LOVE A TREE

We anticipate that MCPS will do whatever it takes to start construction in January, even despite our appeal. Save Kelley Park wants to help Gaithersburg residents appreciate the impact that the construction will have on just the trees in the park. Every tree within the 7.1 acres that composes the Level of Development is scheduled to be removed. We are working hard to prevent 55 trees from coming down, especially two amazing Bald Cypress tree located near the tot lot.

• We invite you to RSVP and join us on October 17th (rain date October 18th) where you can “adopt” your tree.

• You will be given a time slot.

• Bring a love note to your tree or create a drawing.

• We’ll help you safely place it on your tree

• Have a picture taken with YOUR tree

• Then take some time to visit the park….while we still have it.

This event is going to be conducted in accordance with current Montgomery County COVID-19 safety guidance. As a result, no more than 50 people can be on site at one time. You and your party will be given a time slot. You will be expected to wear a mask at all times, except during your picture with YOUR tree if you so choose. Your time slot allows time for you to make a drawing or write a letter to your tree--materials will be available, however we encourage you to prepare your item in advance and bring it with you. Should you have questions, please reach out to Lynn (202 236-6776) or Steve (240 671-5072). In the event of rain, we will send an email and post to our website SAVEKELLEYPARK.com.

https://savekelleypark.com/love-a-tree

Delegate Eric Luedtke blocks on Twitter, but "Legislator files open meetings complaint against Maryland State Board of Education for private vote on superintendent raise"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Legislator files open meetings complaint against Maryland State Board of Education for private vote on superintendent raise

A state delegate says the Maryland State Board of Education violated open meetings law when it failed to give the public notice that it was meeting in private in June to vote on the superintendent’s contract and pay raise, according to a complaint filed by the lawmaker.

Del. Eric Luedtke, a Democrat representing Montgomery County, has filed a complaint with the state board that oversees Open Meetings Act compliance, saying the board has repeatedly violated the act by failing to tell the public the subject of closed door meetings.

He particularly focused on the awarding of a new contract to Karen Salmon, who had held the job for four years, and recently got another one year contract that pays her $275,000, a $40,000 or 17 percent raise.

“The board’s handling of this situation was entirely inappropriate,” Luedtke said. “Leave aside how grotesque it is to increase the salary of the superintendent when Marylanders are losing their homes and school systems are in hiring freezes, it’s clear that all of these discussions were intentionally hidden from the public.”..

https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-maryland-school-board-complaint-20200824-yyo3q7trafgmnjf2qfx6xwgfoi-story.html

MCPS Staff told Board of Ed. $800,000 Artificial Turf Field for City of Gaithersburg is just a "tot lot." Staff never told Board of Ed. about $800,000 Expenditure or About Payment for New Bleachers!

Back on April 16, 2020, the Parents' Coalition reported that the City of Gaithersburg had made public a Land Acquisition deal with the Montgomery County Board of Education.

The City of Gaithersburg voted on that Land Acquisition deal on April 20th.

The next day, the Montgomery County Board of Education was supposedly voting on the same deal.

But when the Board of Education was presented with this deal, they were not given the actual Land Acquisition agreement.  Instead, Board members were treated to a Power Point Presentation shown in the videos below.

The City of Gaithersburg Land Acquisition Agreement detailed how the Board of Education was agreeing to expend up to $800,000 for an artificial turf field to be built on City of Gaithersburg land and the Board of Education would be paying for new bleachers for a City baseball field.

Page 5 of the Agreement the Board of Ed. Never Saw

The Board of Education was only told that the plans for the new elementary school at the Kelley Park site included a "tot lot."  

MCPS staff did not mention that the Board of Education was expected to agree to pay up to $800,000 to cover that "tot lot" with artificial turf and MCPS staff never mentioned the bleachers at all.  

And this amid a Global Pandemic.

April 21, 2020, video of Board of Education audio meeting:  Montgomery County Board of Education discussion and vote on acquisition of land from the City of Gaithersburg.  Listen as MCPS staff describes the "tot lot" that will be next to the school, but never mentions that the Board of Education will be paying for that "tot lot" to be covered with up to $800,000 of artificial turf and never mentions that the Board of Education will also be paying for new bleachers of an unknown cost!  

Part 1:



Part 2:  

Emergency! MCPS MUST Agree to Fund up to $800K for City of Gaithersburg Artificial Turf Right Now!

The Gaithersburg City Council website says that the City Council is only holding meetings that are ESSENTIAL.

Therefore, it must be essential and urgent that the City Council approve an agreement with the Montgomery County Board of Education that hasn't even been made public yet.





The Parents' Coalition has obtained a copy of the "deal" that the Gaithersburg City Council will be approving on Monday, April 20, 2020, and we have made it public below.

The "deal" is to give away City parkland to the Board of Education in exchange for the Board of Education agreeing to pay up to $800,000 for the installation of an artificial turf field at the same location.

As of today, the Agenda for Monday is empty. 

Never mind that the Board of Education has an entire, UNUSED public school site nearby, the Board of Education only wants City of Gaithersburg parkland for a new elementary school.

Never mind that the County (and the world) are in the middle of a global pandemic.

Never mind that County budgets are in crisis.

The Montgomery County Board of Education ignores the current fiscal crisis and says, 

Why use free, paid for land when you can take away City parkland and agree to pay up to $800,000 for 

another artificial turf football field? 

MCPS Agreement to Fund $800... by Parents' Coalition of Montg... on Scribd

Board of Ed. Finds $$$ for Artificial Turf for City of Gaithersburg

As noted in our earlier post today, the Montgomery County Public School Real Estate fund was in the negative in FY 2019.  The Real Estate Fund was used to pay for the replacement of the Walter Johnson High School artificial turf football field, but is now out of money for any future artificial turf replacements.

Yet, the Board of Education found money to contribute to an artificial turf field for the City of Gaithersburg as part of the MCPS plan to take over City of Gaithersburg land for an elementary school.

Meanwhile, the Board of Education has a completely empty elementary school site that they refuse to use for a school right down the road from where they want to steal a park from the City of Gaithersburg.

December 2, 2019, City of Gaithersburg meeting:

http://gaithersburgmd.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=6196&MediaPosition=1275.129&ID=2247&CssClass=

Guest Post: MCPS, stop playing tricks with Kelley Park. Give Gaithersburg the treat you gave Bethesda residents — NO new schools at parks!!!

'Save Kelley Park' advocates oppose sacrificing green space for new elementary school

FYI = There is an empty, dedicated elementary school site just about 2 miles away from the location of this park that the Board of Education wants from the City of Gaithersburg.  Why won't the Board of Education build on the elementary school site they own?  The Board of Education leased that land to Comcast, AT&T, SBA Comm, T-Mobile and Verizon.  Instead of using the land they own, the Board of Education was to level a local public park.

Because private companies are more important than public school children.

Letter to MD State Dept of Ed. Details MCPS Site Selection Team Leader Previously Worked for City of Gaithersburg, Should Have Known Which Communities to Contact for New School Committee.

Below is a letter to Maryland State Department of Education regarding the selection of Kelley Park in Gaithersburg for the location of a new elementary school.

Note that the Board of Education already owns an undeveloped elementary school site close to the location of Kelley Park.  The Parents' Coalition has tracked the Woodwards Road Elementary School site for almost 10 years.  The site is owned by the Board of Education and empty, well except for the private cell towers that the Board of Education allowed to be built on the land.

2019 Letter to State Board ... by Parents' Coalition of Montg... on Scribd

Officials consider building new school #MCPS

https://www.localdvm.com/news/i-270/officials-consider-building-new-school/1219843526

LOCATION FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPARKS DEBATE AMONG GAITHERSBURG RESIDENTS

...And while there’s not much disagreement among residents regarding the need of a new school in the community, there is an issue among some residents on the location.

For some residents, building a new school on the park should not be an option.

“It is the only green space on this side of Gaithersburg,” said resident Jeannie Shenk. “There are other places to put a school, but this park shouldn’t be one of them. The loss of the green space would be devastating to this community.”..

http://www.mymcmedia.org/location-new-elementary-school-sparks-debate-among-gaithersburg-residents/