report of the tri-cluster roundtable discussion group - candlewood elementary school pta · 2016....

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Report of the Tri-cluster Roundtable Discussion Group Gaithersburg, Col. Zadok Magruder, and Thomas S. Wootton Clusters

March 4, 2016

Background On November 16, 2015, the Board of Education authorized a Tri-cluster Roundtable Discussion Group process (Roundtable). The charge of the Roundtable was the development of general approaches to relieve Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools of overutilization and the evaluation of these approaches using criteria established by the Roundtable. Scope of the Tri-cluster Roundtable The Board of Education established the scope of the Roundtable to include the Gaithersburg, Col. Zadok Magruder, and Thomas S. Wootton clusters. The Col. Zadok Magruder and Thomas S. Wootton clusters were included in the Roundtable because they are adjacent to the Gaithersburg Cluster and have available capacity at various school levels, as well as a number of elementary schools that are below the desired minimum enrollment size of 450 students. In contrast, several Gaithersburg Cluster schools currently are operating over their capacities or are projected to exceed their capacity in the future. The Roundtable process was not a boundary study process, and only general approaches to reassign areas were discussed. The focus of the Roundtable was on how to address current and projected capacity needs in the six-year time frame. However, the Roundtable also considered longer term enrollment pressures that will come from build out of master plans in the area. Community Representation The Roundtable was comprised of five representatives from each of the three clusters. Representatives included cluster coordinators, members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Parent Council, and members of the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations (MCCPTA). The role of Roundtable representatives was to represent the issues and concerns of their schools and communities. Roundtable representatives developed criteria that were used to evaluate approaches. They also served as liaisons to the communities they represented, obtaining feedback on the approaches and sharing this feedback with the whole Roundtable. A list of the names of the representatives is attached to this report (Appendix A). Appendix B presents the interim superintendent of school’s charge of the Roundtable. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) executive director to the chief operating officer and the director of MCPS Division of Long-range Planning cofacilitated the meetings. Meetings The Roundtable met on the following dates: January 6 and 20, 2016, and February 3, 10, and 24, 2016. All meetings were held in the Team Room at Gaithersburg High School. At the first meeting on January 6, 2016, the Roundtable developed its criteria and brainstormed approaches to address the overutilization of the Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools.

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At the second meeting, the Roundtable was presented with a range of approaches that addressed the criteria: approaches #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 addressed long-term capacity needs while approaches #3a and #4a addressed near-term space deficits. Copies of the approaches were provided for representatives to share with their communities and obtain feedback. Following the presentation of the approaches, Mr. Seth A. Adams, director, MCPS Division of Construction (DOC), and Mr. Michael Shpur, architect, DOC, presented information on the ability to construct additions at Gaithersburg, Rosemont, Strawberry Knoll and Summit Hall elementary schools. Between the second and third scheduled Roundtable meetings, representatives met with their communities to gather feedback on the approaches. At the third meeting on February 3, 2016, Mr. Patrick Butler and Mr. Nkosi Yearwood, staff from the Montgomery County Planning Department, presented information on two master plans that will affect enrollment in the Tri-cluster areas—Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan and Shady Grove Sector Plan. Following these presentations, Roundtable representatives shared feedback they had received on the first set of approaches. It was determined that Approach #5 should be divided into two parts and became the new Approach #5 and #6. In addition, a new Approach #7 was included based on agreement by the committee. On February 10, 2016, a complete packet of all approaches, including the newly requested approach, was presented. Again, copies were provided for representatives to share with their communities and obtain feedback. Following the presentation of the additional approaches, Mrs. Niki T. Hazel, director, Department of Elementary Curriculum and Districtwide Programs, MCPS, and Mr. Eric A. Wilson, director of elementary schools, Office of School Support and Improvement, MCPS, provided information and answered questions about program and operations associated with the approaches. They also addressed a number of questions from Roundtable representatives. At the final meeting on February 24, 2016, Roundtable representatives shared feedback on the additional approaches. They also reviewed and finalized the report’s narrative section. The representatives were provided with a template to submit their evaluation of the approaches and invited to provide position papers from the communities they represent, if desired. Evaluation forms and position papers were to be submitted by March 4, 2016, to be included in this report. Two public information meetings also were held—the first meeting was held at the beginning of the process on December 17, 2015, and the second public meeting was held at the end of the process on February 29, 2016. These meetings were held in the Media Center at Gaithersburg High School. At the first public information meeting, MCPS staff explained the Roundtable Discussion Group process, enrollment issues at Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools, and addressed questions. Attendees at this meeting were invited to complete input forms stating ideas, comments, and concerns regarding the process. At the second public information meeting, MCPS staff presented approaches that were developed by the Roundtable and addressed questions. Attendees were invited to fill out feedback forms stating their views on the approaches.

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Spanish interpreters were present at all meetings, and all materials were translated into Spanish with English and Spanish materials posted on the following MCPS website as they became available: www.montgomeryschools.org/departments/planning/roundtable.aspx. Roundtable Criteria At the first meeting of the Roundtable on January 6, 2016, representatives developed the criteria listed below and finalized it at their January 20, 2016, meeting. Each representative had the opportunity to present criterion. The criteria are not presented in rank order. o Address overutilization at:

o Gaithersburg Elementary School o Rosemont Elementary School o Strawberry Knoll Elementary School o Summit Hall Elementary School

o Consider short-term and long-term conditions. o Consider impact of new development on enrollments and construct adequate capacity. o Consider impact of school overutilization on students, staff, and parking. o Maximize ability of students to walk to school and reduce transportation distances. o Foster a sense of community. o Take advantage of surplus capacity of schools. o Consider availability of support services (Title 1, English for Speakers of Other Languages

(ESOL), Linkages to Learning, School-based Health Centers). o Consider accessibility of school to parents—during day and night. o Consider adequacy of school sites for additions or a new school. o Ensure the diversity of schools. o Consider cost effectiveness, both in terms of capital and operating funds. o Maximize use of property existing in the Gaithersburg Cluster. o Consider the impact of approaches on academic outcomes.

Roundtable Implementation Issues The Roundtable also identified the following ideas and concerns regarding the implementation of the approaches.

o Consider articulation pathway—elementary school to middle school to high school—if boundary changes are proposed.

o Balance the number of students among the three clusters if boundary changes are proposed. o If school changes have to be made, provide families a choice. o If students are reassigned to another school, services now provided at schools should

continue (Title 1, ESOL, Linkages to Learning, and School-based Health Centers). o Revisit student forecast criteria for long-term projections. o Look at alternate available facilities in the area.

Development of Approaches Based on the criteria, MCPS staff from the Division of Long-range Planning developed approaches for consideration by the Roundtable representatives. Approaches were described in narrative form and in tables showing their approximate effect on enrollment at schools. In many cases, one or more of the approaches did not provide a complete solution to the capacity issues.

http://www.montgomeryschools.org/departments/planning/roundtable.aspx

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As requested by the Roundtable, short-term approaches to relieve overutilization were considered, as well as long-term solutions to resolve space deficits. It was found that elements of different approaches may need to be combined in order to form a more comprehensive solution to the space deficits at the Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools. The approaches developed for the Roundtable appear in Appendix C. Evaluation of Approaches Roundtable members were provided an evaluation form to enter their assessments of the approaches. Each representative on the Roundtable was requested to submit an evaluation form. The evaluation forms appear in Appendix D. Some representatives chose to include position papers from the communities they represent. These position papers appear in Appendix E. Summary At this time, the Tri-cluster Roundtable Discussion Group submits its report to the interim superintendent of schools and members of the Board of Education. The Roundtable spent many long meetings diligently discussing the challenges and possible solutions to overutilization in the Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools. We look forward to the interim superintendent’s recommendation and Board of Education review and action on this important matter.

APPENDICES

Appendix A Roundtable Roster

Appendix B Roundtable Charge

Appendix C Approaches

Appendix D Approach Evaluations Appendix E Position Papers

Appendix A

Roundtable Roster

Representatives by Cluster Representatives by Cluster

Gaithersburg Cluster Thomas S. Wootton Cluster

Oscar Alvarenga Karen Collishaw

Carrie Bohrer Nancy Deprey

Vanessa Carbajal Byron Johns

Carolyn Garvey Brian Rabin

Laurie-Anne Sayles Fernanda Theyer

Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster

Nick Grossman

Phil Groven

Cynthia Simonson

Brad Wolvin

Tri-cluster Roundtable Representatives

Appendix B

Roundtable Charge

Tri-cluster Roundtable Discussion Group (Roundtable) Charge

January 6, 2016

Roundtable Discussion The Roundtable is an advisory body to the interim superintendent of schools and is not a decision making body. Charge of the Tri-cluster Roundtable Members The Board of Education resolved that a roundtable discussion be conducted to gain community input about how best to address the high enrollment levels at Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools. Roundtable members are charged with developing general approaches (possible solutions) to relieve Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools of overutilization and with evaluating these approaches against a criteria established at the beginning of the process. A wide range of approaches may be considered, including approaches that provide for classroom additions or a new elementary school, that maintain students in Gaithersburg cluster schools, and that reassign students to Col. Zadok Magruder or Thomas S. Wootton cluster schools. Only general approaches to reassigning students will be considered since the Roundtable is not a boundary study. If a boundary study is pursued in the future, then a separate community involvement process would take place. Conclusion of Roundtable Discussion At the conclusion of the process, a Roundtable report will be sent to the interim superintendent of schools and Board of Education. The report will provide a summary of the process, the approaches that were developed, and Roundtable member evaluations of the approaches. In addition, organizations represented by Roundtable members may submit position papers for inclusion in the report. Facilitation of the Roundtable Discussions Staff from the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Division of Long-range Planning will facilitate the process over a period of six meetings from January to March 2016. Staff will provide information requested by the Roundtable, and as necessary, invite other MCPS staff to meetings to address questions. All Roundtable materials will be posted on the Division of Long-range Planning web site at:

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/index.aspx

Appendix C

Tri-cluster Approaches

Tri-cluster Roundtable Discussion Group:

Approaches to Address Space Deficits at Gaithersburg Cluster Elementary Schools

February 10, 2016

Approach #1— Classroom Additions

Build additions at schools with enrollments above capacity, including Gaithersburg, Rosemont, Strawberry Knoll, and Summit Hall elementary schools and maintain the current service areas.

August 2020 is the earliest that additions could be completed.

Approach #2—New Elementary School

Build a new elementary school and redraw the boundaries of Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools to relieve schools with enrollments above school capacities and to establish the service area of the new school.

August 2020 is the earliest that a new school could be opened.

A site selection process would need to be conducted during the 2016–2017 school year to identify the location for the new school.

A community boundary study process would need to be conducted prior to the opening of the new school. The study would be conducted in spring 2019 with Board action in November 2019.

Approach #3—Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School

Reopen the former Emory Grove Elementary School and redraw the boundaries of Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools to relieve schools with enrollments above school capacities and to establish the service area for Emory Grove Elementary School.

Emory Grove is located at 18100 Washington Grove Lane, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and is within the Judith A. Resnik Elementary School service area.

August 2020 is the earliest the school could be reopened. An addition would need to be built to increase the capacity of the school to 740, and other facility improvements would be required.

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A community boundary study process would need to be conducted prior to the reopening of Emory Grove Elementary School. The study would be conducted in spring 2019 with Board action in November 2019.

The Emory Grove facility is currently a holding center for elementary schools undergoing revitalization/expansion. Brown Station Elementary School is currently housed at the Emory Grove Center through June 2017.

The Emory Grove Center is vacant from August 2017 through December 2019.

The next school scheduled to be in the Emory Grove Center is DuFief Elementary School, beginning in January 2020, followed by Damascus Elementary School beginning in August 2021.

An alternative elementary school holding center would need to be identified for schools scheduled to be housed at the Emory Grove Center during their revitalization/expansion in the future.

Approach #3a—Utilize Emory Grove Center for the Short-term

Utilize the Emory Grove Center on a temporary basis until one of the long-term approaches can be implemented. The Emory Grove Center could be used to temporarily serve a grade level from one or more of the Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools that currently have enrollments above their capacities. August 2017 is the earliest that the Emory Grove Center could be used on a temporary basis.

Approach #4—Grade Reorganization

Reorganize the grade levels served by elementary schools with enrollments above capacity, including Gaithersburg, Rosemont, Strawberry Knoll, and Summit Hall elementary schools from Grades Pre-K-5 to Grades Pre-K-4.

Move Grade 5 students to the middle school that students are assigned to; Gaithersburg and Strawberry Knoll elementary schools Grade 5 students would be assigned to Gaithersburg Middle School, and Rosemont and Summit Hall elementary schools Grade 5 students would be assigned to Forest Oak Middle School.

Both middle schools are projected to exceed their capacities by the 2021–2022 school year. Therefore, an addition at one or both of these middle schools would be required to house the Grade 5 students on a permanent basis. In the interim, relocatable classrooms could be provided to implement this approach.

Approach #4a—Grade Reorganization for the Short-term

Utilize the Gaithersburg Cluster middle schools for Grade 5 students on an interim basis until one of the long-term approaches can be implemented.

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Approach #5—Reassign the Shady Grove Sector Plan to the Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster

Reassign the portion of the Shady Grove Sector Plan that is within the Washington Grove Elementary School service area to Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster schools.

A community boundary study process would be conducted to consider the Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster schools that would receive the Shady Grove Sector Plan. This process could be conducted in spring 2017 with Board action in November 2017. Reassignments could then occur beginning with the 2018–2019 school year.

The reassignment of the Shady Grove Sector Plan area would create capacity at Washington Grove Elementary School that could be utilized to relieve Gaithersburg Elementary School that has an adjacent service area.

To address the Strawberry Knoll Elementary School space deficit, an addition could be built. The earliest it could be completed is August 2020.

To address the Summit Hall Elementary School space deficit an addition could be built prior to the revitalization/expansion project, or the school could be expanded during the revitalization/expansion project. The earliest an addition could be completed is August 2020. The revitalization/expansion is scheduled for completion in January 2023.

In the long-term the reassignment listed above may require additions to Col. Zadok Magruder cluster schools, as master planned housing is built over the next 20 to 30 years.

The Shady Grove Sector Plan includes a future elementary school site.

Approach #6—Reassign the Area West of Interstate 270 to the Wootton Cluster

Reassign the area west of Interstate 270 that is within the Rosemont Elementary School service area to Thomas S. Wootton Cluster schools. This area includes the Crown and Decoverly housing developments and housing developments associated with the Great Seneca Science Corridor (GSSC) Master Plan.

The portions of the GSSC Master Plan that would be reassigned are the “Belward” area—where the amount of housing is constrained to staff and visitors to the future John Hopkins University facilities—and the “Life Sciences North” area that is north of Key West Highway. Remaining areas of the GSSC Master Plan—that contain most of the future housing—are already within the Thomas S. Wootton Cluster.

A community boundary study process would be conducted to consider the Thomas S. Wootton cluster schools that would receive the areas listed above. This process could be conducted in spring 2017 with Board action in November 2017. Reassignments could then occur beginning with the 2018–2019 school year.

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The reassignment of the portion of the Rosemont Elementary School service area west of Interstate 270 would substantially reduce the projected space shortage at the school.

To address the Gaithersburg Elementary School space deficit an addition could be built. The earliest it could be completed is August 2020.

To address the Strawberry Knoll Elementary School space deficit an addition could be built. The earliest it could be completed is August 2020.

To address the Summit Hall Elementary School space deficit an addition could be built prior to the revitalization/expansion project, or the school could be expanded during the revitalization/expansion project. The earliest an addition could be completed is August 2020. The revitalization/expansion is scheduled for completion in January 2023.

In the long-term the reassignments listed above may require additions to Thomas S. Wootton Cluster schools, as master planned housing is built over the next 20 to 30 years.

The GSSC Master Plan includes a future elementary school site.

Approach #7: Additions, Revitalization/Expansion and Reassignments

Build additions at Gaithersburg and Strawberry Knoll elementary schools. The earliest additions could be completed is August 2020.

Revitalize and expand Summit Hall Elementary School on the current schedule with completion in January 2023.

Reassign the portion of the Shady Grove Sector Plan that is within the Washington Grove Elementary School service area to Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster schools.

Plan for boundary changes to reduce the service area of Rosemont Elementary School. Consider reassignments to schools with space available in the Gaithersburg and Thomas S. Wootton clusters.

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Strawberry Knoll (+8 rooms), Summit Hall ES (+8 rooms.) Earliest additions can open is August 2020.

OfficialEnrollment

School 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22

Gaithersburg Elementary SchoolCapacity 771 771 771 771 771 1,001 1,001Enrollment Projection 867 936 968 993 1,005 991 970Space Available/Deficit -96 -165 -197 -222 -234 10 31

Goshen Elementary SchoolCapacity 538 538 538 538 538 538 538Enrollment Projection 581 544 552 546 533 517 528Space Available/Deficit -43 -6 -14 -8 5 21 10

Laytonsville Elementary SchoolCapacity 448 448 448 448 448 448 448Enrollment Projection 416 401 408 405 407 411 410Space Available/Deficit 32 47 40 43 41 37 38

Rosemont Elementary SchoolCapacity 613 613 613 613 613 843 843Enrollment Projection 596 626 665 712 764 815 863Space Available/Deficit 17 -13 -52 -99 -151 28 -20

Strawberry Knoll Elementary SchoolCapacity 481 481 481 481 481 665 665Enrollment Projection 632 645 642 642 640 644 625Space Available/Deficit -151 -164 -161 -161 -159 21 40

Summit Hall Elementary SchoolCapacity 466 466 466 466 466 650 650Enrollment Projection 671 682 686 694 676 675 657Space Available/Deficit -205 -216 -220 -228 -210 -25 -7

Washington Grove Elementary SchoolCapacity 623 623 623 623 623 623 623Enrollment Projection 452 465 497 525 553 591 632Space Available/Deficit 171 158 126 98 70 32 -9

Summit Hall ES revitalization/expansion scheduled for completion in January 2023.

Projected Enrollment

No changes to Magruder and Wootton Cluster Schools

Approach # 1

Gaithersburg Cluster Schools

Classroom Additions at Four Gaithersburg Cluster Schools

Gaithersburg ES (+10 rooms), Rosemont ES (+10 rooms),

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Earliest a new school could open is August 2020. Official

EnrollmentSchool 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22

Gaithersburg Elementary SchoolCapacity 771 771 771 771 771 771 771Enrollment Projection 867 936 968 993 1,005 991 970Space Available/Deficit -96 -165 -197 -222 -234 -220 -199



Rosemont Elementary SchoolCapacity 613 613 613 613 613 613 613Enrollment Projection 596 626 665 712 764 815 863Space Available/Deficit 17 -13 -52 -99 -151 -202 -250

Strawberry Knoll Elementary SchoolCapacity 481 481 481 481 481 481 481Enrollment Projection 632 645 642 642 640 644 625Space Available/Deficit -151 -164 -161 -161 -159 -163 -144



New Elementary SchoolCapacity 740 740

Cluster Elementaries + New School Capacity 3,940 3,940 3,940 3,940 3,940 4,680 4,680Enrollment Projection 4,215 4,299 4,418 4,517 4,578 4,644 4,685Space Available/Deficit -359 -478 -577 -638 36 -5



Approach # 2


Open a New Elementary School


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Earliest Emory Grove could reopen is August 2020. Official









Emory Grove Elementary SchoolCapacity 740 740

Cluster Elementaries + Emory Grove ESCapacity 3,940 3,940 3,940 3,940 3,940 4,680 4,680Enrollment Projection 4,215 4,299 4,418 4,517 4,578 4,644 4,685Space Available/Deficit -359 -478 -577 -638 36 -5


Approach # 3


Reopen Emory Grove Elementary SchoolNo changes to Magruder and Wootton Cluster Schools


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Emory Grove Center is vacant from August 2017 to December 2019.

OfficialEnrollment

School 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22

Gaithersburg Elementary SchoolCapacity 771 771 771 771 771 771 771Enrollment Projection * 867 936 968 993 1,005 991 970Space Available/Deficit -96 -165 -197 -222 -234 -220 -199





Summit Hall Elementary SchoolCapacity 466 466 466 466 466 466 466Enrollment Projection * 671 682 686 694 676 675 657Space Available/Deficit -205 -216 -220 -228 -210 -209 -191


Emory Grove Center**Capacity 450 450 450

Cluster Elementaries + Emory Grove ESCapacity 3,940 3,940 4,390 4,390 4,390 3,940 3,940Enrollment Projection 4,215 4,299 4,418 4,517 4,578 4,644 4,685Space Available/Deficit -359 -28 -127 -188 -704 -745

*Gaithersburg and Summit Hall elementary schools need the most short-term relief.**Capacity of Emory Grove Center does not include relocatable classrooms that are available at the Center.Summit Hall ES revitalization/expansion scheduled for completion in January 2023.

Approach # 3a


Utilize Emory Grove Center for Short-termNo changes to Magruder and Wootton Cluster Schools


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Reorganize Gaithersburg, Rosemont, Strawberry Knoll and Summit Hall elementary schools to Grades PreK-4 and assign Grade 5 students to middle school of assignment for the elementary schoolEarliest that this could be implemented is August 2017. Official


Forest Oak Middle School*Capacity 949 949 949 949 949 949 949Enrollment Projection 805 799 1,006 1,072 1,145 1,220 1,256Space Available/Deficit 144 150 -57 -123 -196 -271 -307

Gaithersburg Middle School**Capacity 949 949 949 949 949 949 949Enrollment Projection 746 798 1,020 1,070 1,140 1,216 1,260Space Available/Deficit 203 151 -71 -121 -191 -267 -311

Gaithersburg Elementary SchoolCapacity 771 771 771 771 771 771 771Enrollment Projection 867 936 843 851 839 818 805Space Available/Deficit -96 -165 -72 -80 -68 -47 -34



Rosemont Elementary SchoolCapacity 613 613 613 613 613 613 613Enrollment Projection 596 626 581 622 667 712 753Space Available/Deficit 17 -13 32 -9 -54 -99 -140


Summit Hall Elementary School*Capacity 466 466 466 466 466 466 466Enrollment Projection 671 682 595 581 575 561 552Space Available/Deficit -205 -216 -129 -115 -109 -95 -86


Grade 5 students from Rosemont ES and Summit Hall ES are reassigned to Forest Oak Middle School.Grade 5 students from Gaithersburg ES and Strawberry Knoll ES are reassigned to Gaithersburg Middle School.Summit Hall ES revitalization/expansion scheduled for completion in January 2023.


Approach # 4


Grade Reorganization


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Reorganize Gaithersburg, Rosemont, Strawberry Knoll and Summit Hall elementary schools to Grades PreK-4 and assign Grade 5 students to middle school of assignment for the elementary schoolEarliest that this could be implemented is August 2017. Official


Forest Oak Middle School*Capacity 949 949 949 949 949 949 949Enrollment Projection 805 799 1,006 1,072 1,145 1,003 1,041Space Available/Deficit 144 150 -57 -123 -196 -54 -92

Gaithersburg Middle School**Capacity 949 949 949 949 949 949 949Enrollment Projection 746 798 1,020 1,070 1,140 938 1,000Space Available/Deficit 203 151 -71 -121 -191 11 -51

Gaithersburg Elementary SchoolCapacity 771 771 771 771 771 771 771Enrollment Projection 867 936 843 851 839 991 970Space Available/Deficit -96 -165 -72 -80 -68 -220 -199



Rosemont Elementary SchoolCapacity 613 613 613 613 613 613 613Enrollment Projection 596 626 581 622 667 815 863Space Available/Deficit 17 -13 32 -9 -54 -202 -250


Summit Hall Elementary School*Capacity 466 466 466 466 466 466 466Enrollment Projection 671 682 595 581 575 675 657Space Available/Deficit -205 -216 -129 -115 -109 -209 -191


Grade 5 students from Rosemont ES and Summit Hall ES are reassigned to Forest Oak Middle School.Grade 5 students from Gaithersburg ES and Strawberry Knoll ES are reassigned to Gaithersburg Middle School.Summit Hall ES revitalization/expansion scheduled for completion in January 2023.

Approach # 4a


Grade Reorganization for the Short-termNo changes to Magruder and Wootton Cluster Schools


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Earliest that the approach could be implemented is August 2018.

OfficialEnrollment

School 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22




Rosemont Elementary SchoolCapacity 613 613 613 613 613 613 613Enrollment Projection * 596 626 665 712 764 815 863Space Available/Deficit 17 -13 -52 -99 -151 -202 -250



Washington Grove Elementary School**Capacity 623 623 623 623 623 623 623Enrollment Projection ** 452 465 497 493 495 502 508Space Available/Deficit 171 158 126 130 128 121 115


Approach # 5


Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan, now in Washington Grove ES, to Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster


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Earliest approach could be implemented is August 2018. Official


Magruder Cluster ElementariesBefore reassignment of I-370 east

Capacity 2,669 2,652 2,635 2,635 2,635 2,859 2,843Enrollment Projection 2,636 2,592 2,632 2,615 2,614 2,618 2,609Space Available/Deficit 60 3 20 21 241 234

Magruder Cluster ElementariesAfter reassignment of I-370 east

Capacity 2,669 2,652 2,635 2,635 2,635 2,859 2,843Enrollment Projection 2,636 2,592 2,632 2,647 2,672 2,707 2,733Space Available/Deficit 60 3 -12 -37 152 110

* Cluster capacity includes addition to Resnik ES that increases capacity to 701 in Aug. 2020.

Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster Schools


Approach # 5Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan, now in Washington Grove ES, to Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster

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Earliest that the approach could be implemented is August 2018.

OfficialEnrollment

School 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22




Rosemont Elementary SchoolCapacity 613 613 613 613 613 613 613Enrollment Projection * 596 626 665 655 665 669 668Space Available/Deficit 17 -13 -52 -42 -52 -56 -55



Washington Grove Elementary School**Capacity 623 623 623 623 623 623 623Enrollment Projection ** 452 465 497 525 553 591 632Space Available/Deficit 171 158 126 98 70 32 -9

Approach # 6Reassign Area West of I-270, now in Rosemont ES, to Thomas S. Wootton Cluster



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Earliest approach could be implemented is August 2018. Official


Wootton Cluster ElementariesBefore reassignment of I-270 west

Capacity 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,574Enrollment Projection 2,771 2,672 2,609 2,528 2,494 2,512 2,901Space Available/Deficit 434 533 596 677 711 693 673

Wootton Cluster ElementariesAfter reassignment of I-270 west

Capacity 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,205 3,574Enrollment Projection 2,771 2,672 2,609 2,585 2,593 2,658 3,096Space Available/Deficit 434 533 596 620 612 547 478

Cluster capacity includes revitalization/expansions of Cold Spring ES to 504 capacity and DuFief ES to 740 capacity (Aug. 2021).Cluster projection incoporates estimated number of students reassigned to DuFief ES from Carson ES in August 2021 (350 students).


Approach # 6Reassign Area West of I-270, now in Rosemont ES, to Thomas S. Wootton Cluster

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Gaithersburg ES (+10 classrooms), Strawberry Knoll ES (+8 classrooms)Earliest Shady Grove Plan Reassigned Aug. 2018. Earliest additions could be implemented is August 2020.

OfficialEnrollment

School 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22

Gaithersburg Elementary SchoolCapacity 771 771 771 771 771 1,001 1,001Enrollment Projection 867 936 968 993 1,005 991 970Space Available/Deficit -96 -165 -197 -222 -234 10 31




Strawberry Knoll Elementary SchoolCapacity 481 481 481 481 481 665 665Enrollment Projection 632 645 642 642 640 644 625Space Available/Deficit -151 -164 -161 -161 -159 21 40


Washington Grove Elementary SchoolCapacity 623 623 623 623 623 623 623Enrollment Projection 452 465 497 493 495 502 508Space Available/Deficit 171 158 126 130 128 121 115


Additions at Gaithersburg ES and Strawberry Knoll ES

Expansion of Summit Hall ES During Rev/Ex in Jan. 2023

Future Boundary Change to Relieve Rosemont ES

Approach # 7Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan, now in Washington Grove ES, to Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster



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Earliest Shady Grove Sector Plan Reassigned Aug. 2018. Official


Magruder Cluster ElementariesBefore reassignment of I-370 east

Capacity 2,669 2,652 2,635 2,635 2,635 2,859 2,843Enrollment Projection 2,636 2,592 2,632 2,615 2,614 2,618 2,609Space Available/Deficit 60 3 20 21 241 234

Magruder Cluster ElementariesAfter reassignment of I-370 east

Capacity 2,669 2,652 2,635 2,635 2,635 2,859 2,843Enrollment Projection 2,636 2,592 2,632 2,647 2,672 2,707 2,733Space Available/Deficit 60 3 -12 -37 152 110

* Cluster capacity includes addition to Resnik ES that increases capacity to 701 in Aug. 2020.

Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster Schools


Additions at Gaithersburg ES and Strawberry Knoll ESExpansion of Summit Hall ES During Rev/Ex in Jan. 2023

Future Boundary Change to Relieve Rosemont ES

Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan, now in Washington Grove ES, to Col. Zadok Magruder ClusterApproach # 7

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Appendix D

Approach Evaluations

Not all Tri-cluster Roundtable Discussion Group Members submitted approach evaluations.

Gaithersburg Cluster

Roundtable Representatives


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Approach Evaluation Form

Tri-Cluster Roundtable Discussion Group

February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Carrie Bohrer; GHS PTSA President;

MCPS Tri-Cluster Roundtable Participant—Gaithersburg Cluster

Dear Interim Superintendent Bowers: I appreciate your time and effort in

working thru these Evaluation forms. Please note my brevity is meant for

efficiency. I do understand the approaches and the components of the

approaches. I also understand that asking for additional components in

each approach HERE defeats the purpose of how and why the approach

was set up in the first place, not only that, asking for additional measures

here would not conform with the process of the Roundtable.

My history with the Gaithersburg Community is relevant to this process and

evaluation. I attended Gaithersburg Elementary, Gaithersburg Middle

(Junior High back then ); Gaithersburg High School, graduated in 1990

and came back in 1994 to teach Health Education at Gaithersburg High

School for 5 years. I’ve seen this community grow and change, and this

community is in dire need of some assistance to stop it from bursting at the

seams.

Considering the Roundtable criteria, please provide your evaluation of the

approaches:

Approach #1 – Classroom Additions

Approach 1 meets the following criteria #: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

NOTE: Approach #1 does NOT have a long term solution

Approach #2 – New Elementary School

Approach 2 meets the following criteria #: 1, 3, 4, 10, 11

Least favorable due to no short term resolution and the ability to deconstruct the community.

Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School

Approach 3 meets the following criteria #: 1, 3, 4, 10, 11, 14

Least favorable due to no short term resolution and the ability to deconstruct the community.

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Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term

Approach 3a meets the following criteria #: 3, 4, 14

Least favorable due to no long term resolution and the disruption to the sense of community.

Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization

Approach 4 meets the following criteria #: 13, 14

Feedback received from the Gaithersburg Cluster was that this approach should not even be on

the table.

Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term

Approach 4a meets the following criteria #: 13, 14

Feedback received from the Gaithersburg Cluster was that this approach should not even be on

the table. Too disruptive for a short term measure.

Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster

Approach 5 meets the following criteria #: 2, 3, 4

Feedback received from the Gaithersburg Cluster was that this approach does not meet short

term solutions, and excludes Washington Grove and Rosemont Elementary additions.

Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster

Approach 6 meets the following criteria #: 13, 14

NOTE: not a short term solution; not favored by community feedback.

Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments

Approach 7 meets the following criteria #: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Approach 7 meets all the criteria.

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Approach Evaluation Form Tri-Cluster Roundtable Discussion Group

February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Vanessa Carbajal, Rosemont ES PTA President

Considering the Roundtable criteria, please provide your evaluation of the approaches:

Approach #1 – Classroom Additions This is an approach that would benefit Rosemont ES and possibly Gaithersburg ES. Parents from Rosemont ES are worried that there is not enough space for additions and the additions will impact the children’s playground. Also, some parents were concerned with the parking space surrounding the school and how the addition may impact the residential area. My final thought is that even though Rosemont ES would benefit from having boundaries changed, Rosemont ES would also benefit from having additions built to help reduce future overcapacity issues. This is an approach that would work together with the other approaches. Approach #2 – New Elementary School One thing I would like to point out is that the Gaithersburg cluster area is an area that is family oriented and will continue to attract families with children. Many feel that an addition of a new school could possibly help to reduce over population within some of the schools. Of course this would only work if it is used in combination with the other approaches. Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School Because of the tight budget on hand, this is an approach that could work. The downside to this approach would be that we would be losing one of our holding schools. However, many agree that we will eventually need a new school built within the Gaithersburg cluster area to help prevent future capacity issues. Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term This would be an approach that parents would like best as a short-term solution. It is important to make sure that all support services are made accessible for those who need them, when relocating the children. Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization Parents did not have much to say on this approach other than they do NOT agree with this approach as a long term or short term approach. Many parents questioned the safety of the children, the cost and the hassle for parents in regards to transportation and timing. Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term Parents did not have much to say to on this approach other than they do NOT agree with this approach as a long term or short term approach. Many parents questioned the safety of the children, the cost and the hassle for parents in regards to transportation and timing.

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Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster N/A Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster When reviewing Approach # 6 this seems to be one of the approaches that seemed to have most parent’s agreement on. Most residents within the area of Decoverly and Crown feel that the current boundaries are do not work well. Parents feel that a changing the boundaries of these residential areas will benefit the students and the school. Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments I feel that this approach is one that would work best. One thing I feel we learned at the meeting is that none of the approaches above will work alone. In order to resolve the issue we will need to reassign boundaries, add additions to those schools that have enough space, and rebuild the schools that are not fully functional. Although we are looking at resolving the overcapacity as a whole, each school has different needs that need to be addressed in order to fully solve the overcapacity issue within the schools.

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February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Carolyn Garvey, Gaithersburg Elementary School PTA


Approach #1 – Classroom Additions This approach addresses the immediate needs of the Gaithersburg elementary school. Any additions to Summit Hall, should be ones that can be integrated into its 2023 revitalization plans. If this is not possible than I suggest no additions to Summit Hall, as long as, as the school stays on track for a revitalization in 2023. The other benefits of this approach is that it would keep the walking community intact, allow the students at the title 1 schools to keep receiving the health and social services that they need and currently receive. In regards to Gaithersburg elementary school, additional resources would be needed to help teachers and staff coordinate and effectively operate with over 900 students. This approach also does not address the long term issues that will come with the new developments such as the Shady Gove Sector, Crowne, and the Great Seneca Science Corridor (GSSC) Master Plan will have on the Gaithersburg, Magruder, and Wootton Clusters. Approach #2 – New Elementary School Unless, this approach can be completed in the next few years and have a school within a 1 to 2 miles of the existing overcrowded Gaithersburg schools it is not realistic that this approach will address the short and long term capacity issues at the Gaithersburg schools. While a new elementary school within the Gaithersburg cluster would help elevate the over capacity at Gaithersburg, Summit Hall, Strawberry Knoll, and Rosemont elementary schools, this approach does not provide certainty that the location would keep the walking communities intact. Nor is it clear whether this approach will address all of the overcapacity issues at all of the Gaithersburg schools. The bottom line, I am not in favor of this approach because of the unknowns. Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School I do not like this approach because it takes away a holding school for the county. If this school is no longer available to hold students while their schools are being renovated, it will delay current renovation plans and not provide relief for schools that are overcrowded and/or in dire need of renovations. Another negative is that it is an old building that would require renovations. Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term This plan might work for temporally re-locating some students (such as a grade) from Summit Hall, Rosemont and Strawberry Knoll elementary schools while additions are being made to their schools in August 2017. However, this approach may cause logistical problems for parents having to drop off and pick up children at Emory Grove and their home school.

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This approach is also not ideal for the Gaithersburg Elementary School for the same reason. A more practical temporary location for a Gaithersburg elementary grade is at Gaithersburg Middle School, since it is in walking distance from the GES.

Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization I am not in favor of this approach because the MCPS planners suggested that the 5th grade students were emotionally to close in age to the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, thus there is more potential for social conflict between the 5th graders and the middle schoolers. It also moves the capacity issue to the middle schools. Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term In combination with approach 1, this approach would address the short term capacity issues at the Gaithersburg schools. See approach 1 for my additional comments. However, as previously stated moving a 5th grade class to a middle school could cause some social issues due to the small age gap with middle schoolers. If the age gap was greater between the grades, such as kindergartners and 6th graders, there may be little to no social conflicts. Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster I am in favor of this approach for the following reasons: It can address some of the Gaithersburg Elementary school capacity issue by reassigning students to Washington Grove. If Gaithersburg students have to be reassigned to another school, it would be better to have them reassigned to another Gaithersburg school that is providing similar services that these students are currently receiving. For example, if some Gaithersburg students have to be bused to a different school, reassigning them to Washington Grove elementary would be preferred over a Magruder or Wootton schools because they would not be on the bus for very long and they would receive the same title 1 services that they are currently receiving. However, it is not clear whether this reassignment will address all of the Gaithersburg elementary capacity issue. It is also not clear whether reassigning the Shady Grove Sector plan the Magruder cluster would not create a capacity issue at the Magruder schools once young families move into homes that are currently occupied by older residents. This plan also does not address the capacity issue at Rosemont elementary school. Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster This approach addresses the long term capacity issue at Rosemont. However, in the long term it moves the capacity issue further west into Wootton, thus creating a domino effect. Another benefit is that less money will be needed because this approach only includes adding additions to 2 of the 4 elementary schools. In regards to expanding Gaithersburg elementary school, see my comments in approach 7. Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments I am in favor of this approach, for the following reasons:

It addresses the short term crowding issues at all 4 Gaithersburg elementary school. It addresses the long term crowding issues that the Shady Grove Sector Plan will have on

Washington Grove elementary school.

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It allows students in Gaithersburg schools who currently walk to school to continue to walk to school and to maintain the health and social services they are currently receiving at the title 1 schools (specifically: Gaithersburg, Summit Hall, and Washington Grove elementary schools).

However, what this approach lacks is providing more staff resources to Gaithersburg Elementary School to allow it to operate successfully with a population of 900 plus students. The additional resources should allow teachers and staff to easily coordinate with more classes per grade, while allowing Gaithersburg elementary school to maintain its walking community and title 1 services. This approach would also benefit from aspects of approach 4a, by moving a grade (ideally kindergarten) to the middle schools while additions are being worked on.

Additional comments:

If some of Gaithersburg Elementary students (GES) have to be reassigned to a different school they should be reassigned to a school that is in the Gaithersburg cluster, includes a short bus route for students and parents, and has equivalent health and social services that they currently receive at Gaithersburg Elementary school. Moving some GES students to Washington Grove is more practical then moving them to a Magurder or Wootton schools because Washington Grove enrollment is currently not at capacity, a title 1 school, and closer to where Gaithersburg elementary students live. This scenario would require reassigning the Shady Grove Sector to Magruder schools. In the long term, additions would be needed at the Magruder schools to address the overcapacity issue caused from receiving the Shady Grove Sector students and the turnover of single family homes from older residents to young residents with children.

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February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Laurie-Anne Sayles, Gaithersburg HS NAACP Parent Council Liaison



• This approach would work if we could immediately and concurrently build additions at GES, Rosemont, and Strawberry Knoll ES, prioritizing the addition at Strawberry Knoll and moving forward with the revitalize and expansion (RevX) for Summit Hall elementary school.


• Given the current and future development efforts underway, we will need a new elementary school in the Gaithersburg cluster within the next 5 years, but with other schools needing additions and renovations now, this seems like a long-term approach and not an immediate solution to address our current overcrowding problems.

• It is also recommended that Approach #1 and #2 be combined and implemented concurrently with the aforementioned options

Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School

• This would need an addition built on it as well before it would be adequate to absorb overflow from neighboring schools. Since we need a holding school for our students or even a grade level while rebuilding, this would not be a viable approach long term.


• We agree with this approach but it is not an exhaustive approach that would address the overcrowding at surrounding schools. For this approach to work, it would have to be combined with one or more of the #4 to #6 approaches.


• This approach is taking our kids from one portable to another portable and disconnecting/disrupting their normal routine.

Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term

• This approach is taking our kids from one portable to another portable and disconnecting/disrupting their normal routine. This may work with only the neighboring GES because of its proximity to the GMS. Parental engagement at all schools is already challenging, so moving kids from walkable neighborhood schools may affect the parents accessibility to their children’s schools on a regular basis.

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• This approach would not address the need for additions/renovations at Gaithersburg ES now. Also, Summit Hall ES cannot afford to be delayed once again and need to adhere to the proposed schedule for the RevX to be completed by 2023.

• Redistricting the schools will cause the same bubble of overcrowding in the Magruder cluster that we are dealing with in the Gaithersburg cluster now, so this is not an exhaustive remedy for our immediate problems.

Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster

• Reassigning a portion of the areas within the Rosemont ES area to Wooton would contribute to overcrowding in that school district and the kids would have to be shuttled back and forth once again while we wait for a new elementary school to be built over the next four to twenty years.

• This approach includes multiple options that could work but with three housing developments feeding into this district there’s going to have to be a more proactive approach for building additions at multiple schools concurrently to accommodate the forecasted enrollment that will affect surrounding school districts.


• This approach seems to address all of our concerns. So while we have to wait three to five years before we begin to experience any relief, this is the most comprehensive approach in the long run.

• A more concrete timeline and budget for implementing this would be useful in conveying how realistic this approach would be to being approved.

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Col. Zadok Magruder Cluster Roundtable Representatives


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February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Philip Groven, Magruder Cluster


Opening statement: In my comments below, I will be addressing two core issues: the current

overcrowding in Gaithersburg, Strawberry Knoll, and Rosemont elementary schools, and the projected

overcrowding due to the Shady Grove construction projects and West of 270 construction projects. I

urge the Superintendent and the Board to consider the unintended consequences of some of these

decisions which I will try to capture below. Bruce Crispell was a wonderful chair, and the group was

quite diligent in its effort. I appreciate everyone’s professionalism.

Approach #1 – Classroom Additions I believe that classroom additions either by new construction or otherwise for the Gaithersburg cluster, would be the best choice to alleviate current overcrowding in all Gaithersburg cluster schools. Through the roundtable process it became abundantly clear that the four schools; Gaithersburg ES, Summit Hall ES, Rosemont ES, and Strawberry Knoll ES communities would like to stay in their current locations. Classroom additions are the only reasonable way to accommodate those requirements. The renovations and expansions that are currently scheduled should be either on time, or expedited. Approach #2 – New Elementary School This approach would be a good option to take pressure off of the four schools that are currently overcrowded in lieu of pushing children into an adjacent cluster, which would have significant secondary and tertiary issues. Building the Jeremiah Park ES would help alleviate pressure in the entire cluster, but a boundary study would still be required to properly disperse the children within the Gaithersburg cluster. This would be the preferred approach over Approach 5 which I will discuss its specific limitations in that section. Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School I do not believe this is a viable option, there was significant opposition from the Gaithersburg Cluster residents, and would take a valuable resource away from the county since it is currently being used as a holding school. Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term Using Emory Grove as a holding school while capital improvement is done in the Gaithersburg Cluster would be ideal. There were many improvements made to Emory Grove to make it a wonderful elementary holding school (I had kids in the holding school from Candlewood a few years ago) and if it is what is necessary to improve the facilities that the kids will be in permanently, this should be strongly considered. I think this is amplified by the fact that the school is to be vacant for several years. The scheduled REVEX could be moved up to coincide with this opening. This would help alleviate near term overcrowding issues, by providing additional capacity in the very near future. Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization I believe this is a viable long term approach for Gaithersburg Elementary. With the middle school in walking distance, and projected numbers well within the limits for elementary and middle school – this is ideal for this specific school. Gaithersburg Elementary students are mostly walkers. This is an approach that has been used in the County successfully in the past. I believe that there are best practices that could be used to make sure this is a practical and

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useful long term solution. I believe this will have to be used in conjunction with approach 1 to make the spaces viable for the long term. There was opposition from Gaithersburg regarding this approach, but I do not think the value was well understood by the participants. Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term I believe this is the best immediate term approach for Gaithersburg Elementary. With the middle school in walking distance, and projected numbers well within the limits for elementary and middle school – this is ideal for this specific situation. Gaithersburg Elementary students are mostly walkers. This is an approach that has been used in the County successfully in the past. I believe that there are best practices that could be used to allow construction and other activities to commence for a long term solution. I believe this will have to be used in conjunction with approach 1 to make the spaces viable for the long term. There was opposition from Gaithersburg regarding this approach, but I do not think the value was well understood by the participants. This is probably the easiest, lowest cost with the quickest impact solution to help relieve pressure in the most overcrowded school in the cluster. Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster As the Candlewood PTA President, I can say that this approach was met with enormous resistance. 7/8 people who approached me personally gave negative feedback on this particular approach. I suspect if this was selected, considerable opposition would continue. Some of that concern could be alleviated if the plan outlined very specifically what portion of the Shady Grove Sector plan would be moved into the Magruder Cluster. I believe that the projected impact on Magruder Cluster would continue to make this a suboptimal solution as overcrowding is highly likely in just a few years. Currently the Candlewood community is largely occupied by residents who are older and have no children. As they move away, the houses are being purchased by younger families – which I know have not been accounted for in the current assumptions. This would certainly cause the Magruder cluster to quickly become overcrowded, effectively transferring the expected overcrowding from the Gaithersburg to Magruder cluster. Additionally the Candlewood school site is in a residential neighborhood with very narrow streets. Building out the school would further amplify the volume of traffic and multiple busses transiting the neighborhood. The streets do not fit a vehicle parked on the side of the road with traffic to flow unobstructed. This creates dangerous conditions for children walking as busses and cars are jockeying for position on these very narrow streets. This is a safety issue that should not be ignored. Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster Assigning this area to the Wootton Cluster would be a viable solution. Planned construction would need to continue in the Wootton Cluster to allow this approach to continue to be viable.

Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments I do not believe that this menu of approaches is viable. I have addressed specific recommendations above, and do not believe that this option should be considered.

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February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Brad Wolvin, Candlewood Elementary, Magruder Cluster


Approach #1 – Classroom Additions I defer to the Gaithersburg cluster regarding the specific, but this seems like a necessary partial solution at a general level.

Approach #2 – New Elementary School I fear that this Approach would use all available resources, given the constraints we had to assume for the Roundtable. Having said that, both the County and the State need to realize that our competitive advantage is MCPS. Families like mine moved to Montgomery County because of the school system. If the school system starts to slip, the whole area will spiral. MCPS should be the first priority at the various governmental levels when allocating resources during the budget process. Montgomery County has taken in large influxes of development, so it owes those residents corresponding school services. New schools need to be built.

Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School I would not recommend this as a long term solution for several reasons, including the fact that Emory Grove is needed as a holding facility.

Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term The Candlewood experience demonstrated that this is a viable temporary solution while a more sustainable solution is built. The experience was a hardship for our community, but MCPS managed it as well as possible, ultimately proving how useful Emory Grove can be as a temporary facility. This Approach should be considered as a partial solution.

Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization This approach should be considered as a creative partial solution, especially for Gaithersburg ES. There is precedent for Kindergarten utilizing a middle school’s space. I know there are tradeoffs, but this partial solution seems better to me than the status quo of overcrowding. It keeps the community whole, without busing children great lengths.

Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term This approach should be considered as a creative partial solution, especially for Gaithersburg ES, given its proximity to the MS. Furthermore, there is MCPS precedent for Kindergarten utilizing a middle school’s space. I know there are tradeoffs, but this partial solution seems better to me than the status quo of overcrowding. It keeps the community whole, without busing kids great lengths.

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Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster Please see the Candlewood ES PTA position paper regarding this Approach. We cannot support this Approach until we receive greater specificity. We need to narrow the proposed boundary area, as detailed in the paper, to ensure that Candlewood does not become overcrowded. We also want to limit the potential need for more construction at Candlewood. We do not want to just transfer an overcrowding problem from one cluster to another.

Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster I defer to the affected clusters.

Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments My opinion for the various components of this Approach are detailed in the similar previous Approaches. Candlewood is hesitant to reassign that portion of the Shady Grove Sector until we receive greater specificity.

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February 24, 2016 Representative Name and Affiliation: Cynthia Simonson, Shady Grove Middle School

____________________________________________________________


Approach #1 – Classroom Additions Additional classrooms are necessary to accommodate students that are projected within these schools, with particular emphasis on ensuring class space for all individuals able to walk to school. I do not believe additional classrooms at all schools may be necessary if other approaches are also taken. However any school that has a “walking population” that exceeds the current capacity, additional classrooms should be considered and built at the earliest opportunity. Gaithersburg Elementary – Immediate plans to put on an addition to accommodate current population. Even if boundary changes are made to shift part of the school to a less populated school within the current cluster, this particular school, because of the high walking population, still requires an addition. Strawberry Knoll Elementary – Immediate plans to put on an addition to accommodate the current population. Summit Hall – Immediate plans to provide a permanent structure on the campus. MCPS should not wait until the rev/ex as that 2023 date could shift even further. However, MCPS may want to consider an independent structure, as opposed to attached classrooms) that can easily accommodate future construction. Rosemont – Any delays for an addition to Rosemont should only be because of the suggestions in Approach #6 related to boundary studies. However, an addition should still be considered for immediate construction if the boundary shifts either do not occur or are insufficient in resolving the community’s projected overcrowding. While this aligns with most of the criteria, this approach indicates “classroom additions” only and does not address staff needs. To resolve, this approach should be expanded to include the infrastructure needs – most importantly, parking. Approach #2 – New Elementary School I do not believe a new elementary school is a feasible solution with the current sites being suggested. Each site suggested would involve bussing students away from their walkable community and is not in keeping with the criteria established by the group. Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School This, as a long-term solution, does not align with the criteria established by this group. It breaks up the community; creates difficulty with commutes as the public transportation from the affected locations – impacting the accessibility of parents – both in the day and at night. Site also resides outside the Gaithersburg cluster, currently.

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Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term As a short-term measure, this could beneficial during the construction phase at one or more of the elementary schools. Using this location for a grade level or two grade levels may relieve the overcrowding in a couple of schools while construction of the additions is occurring. It does have parent accessibility issues which is in our criteria but there may be a school that would find the benefits of this option offset the negative impact on the community and Gaithersburg families. From discussions with the representatives of the over-crowded Gaithersburg schools, most schools would likely favor staying together in a “portables village” on their current campus over having part of their school transported to Emory Grove. Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization The approach, as written, does not reflect the group conversation as this approach only considers 5th grade as an option. Even so, while this aligns with the criteria set out by this group, based on the feedback and discussions with professionals in student/curriculum development, whether it is 5th grade or the group’s alternate suggestion of another grade level, this is not considered optimal as a long-term option. Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term Again, the approach, as written, does not reflect the group conversation to consider grades other than 5th grade. Because of the placement of Gaithersburg elementary, reorganizing and moving a grade (or two) to alternate space should be considered. I only see this as an option for Gaithersburg Elementary because of the proximity. Prior to finalizing this plan, I would urge MCPS to review other retail space within close proximity that MCPS could lease as a temporary location for the 3+ years needed until the classroom additions can be completed. Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster Given the current availability within the Magruder cluster at the elementary, middle, and high school, it seems to me a logical approach to reassign PARTS of the Shady Grove Sector Plan to the Magruder cluster. I would advocate for this boundary reassignment to be limited to the new construction on Crabbs Branch and not include any other buildings that may be within the greater “sector plan.” Moving the full sector to Magruder (to include the 900+ units currently annexed/proposed to be annexed to Rockville) will undoubtedly put the elementary school that is within closest proximity to the construction, at capacity within the first few years. And, the following years, the Magruder cluster will face the same issues the Gaithersburg schools are currently addressing:

Overcrowding at the elementary school, Moving students within the cluster – disrupting communities with boundary changes within the cluster

in reaction to population increases in one or another part of the cluster; and Increasing frustration stemming from the inability to sufficiently address school overcrowding before

the community is in an overcrowding crisis.

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However, even if my suggestion is taken and only the “Westside” development is reassigned to Magruder, it only delays the inevitable. The natural choice for the Westside development is to be assigned to Candlewood. However, Candlewood is in a neighborhood that is considered on the “verge of turnover.” Many streets of three and four-bedroom homes on quarter acre lots are dominated by “empty nesters” who have seen their families grow up in this community. If and when there is a turnover, the natural and anticipated buyers in this community are families with children. As such, if the superintendent and board proceed with the boundary study for the reassignment, I would urge MCPS to consider:

1) Research an algorithm for “aging neighborhoods” to more accurately project future students. At present, the Magruder cluster has excess capacity but, turnover in housing can change the capacity issues quickly. Our community is concerned that MCPS does not have “triggers” to identify or to resolve overcrowding with permanent solutions on a timely basis. Even through this Gaithersburg process, MCPS can only provide solutions 4+ years after the community has experienced a multi-year overcrowding crisis.

2) Include an amendment, at least for MCPS CIP, prior to Phase 2 of the SG Sector Plan that MCPS must include in the CIP the renovation and expansion of the affected middle and high school at the same time as the building of the Jeremiah Park elementary school. If the boundaries are moved, the Magruder cluster will receive another elementary school in the approved plan. However, only the elementary school funding is included in the current conditions for the plan. We would like to address the school population/overcrowding issues on the front end for the entire matriculation of the child, not just at the elementary school.

I believe this approach, with limiting the boundary reassignment to only the Westside/Crabbs Branch development, is aligned with the group’s criteria. As a community, many already believed we were receiving the Westside development as there was very little differentiation in discussions between the construction on the south side of Redland versus the construction off Crabbs Branch. However, if the superintendent and board deem the entire Shady Grove Sector, including the buildings already annexed (or proposed to be annexed) to Rockville are also shifted to Magruder, I do not believe this aligns. Our criteria includes taking advantage of surplus capacity at other schools -- Rockville has already demonstrated the capacity to accept the annexed buildings. Our criteria includes fostering community – the Westside is emotionally already within our cluster – as a community, we drive past that construction every day. Our children’s bus routes use Crabbs Branch currently to reach our students. Moving the boundary all the way to 355 to include the additional buildings and future construction no longer feels like a “neighborhood school.” Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster Reassignment of parts of the Rosemont service area can immediately offset the projected space shortage. I would not limit this boundary study to the reassignment to Wooten but rather, approach this as a reassignment of Rosemont to include other schools that are currently within the Gaithersburg cluster. At present, the overage at Rosemont can be easily absorbed by the Wooten Elementary schools; however, careful consideration needs to be taken regarding the long-term effect of this move. We are not serving the Wooten cluster well if the high school experiences significant overcrowding with transfer of Rosemont students (and the domino effect of changing several elementary school boundaries) on top of the additional new construction occurring within this cluster boundary.

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I agree with the premise of reassigning parts of Rosemont but do not agree to limiting this approach to the “west of 1-270 to Wooten Cluster.” In taking this approach and limiting it to just Wooten Cluster, we aren’t aligned with our criteria. We are not fostering a sense of community in either cluster when there is a viable option of moving the boundary between Rosemont and Washington Grove, keeping these students within the Gaithersburg cluster. Further, we are not keeping with the final criteria of this group – “maximize use of property existing in the Gaithersburg cluster.” If there is capacity at Washington Grove, assuming the Approach #5 is adopted, shifting the boundary between these two schools will provide the minimal disruption for the community as a whole. Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments This approach is a combination of approaches above. In order –

1) Agree that Reassignment of Shady Grove Sector should be considered. My fuller response is in #5. I do agree that it makes sense for parts to be reassigned but would advocate that the “entire” sector not be moved unilaterally and only the specific part of the plan at Crabbs Branch be included. This defined section of the sector plan seems plausible to be absorbed into the current capacity of the Magruder cluster at the elementary, middle, and high school without moving beyond the Magruder capacity with current projections.

2) Agree to additions at Gaithersburg ES and Strawberry Knoll ES (Approach 1 but stand by my current comments in approach 1 that it should also include Summit Hall.)

3) DO NOT agree to holding off on the expansion of Summit Hall. I believe the addition should be constructed as soon as possible and the rev/ex will incorporate the new construction when it occurs in 2023. The risk of postponement is too great to have that community without sufficient space any longer than necessary. (Addressed in Approach 1)

4) Agree to an immediate call to review the Rosemont ES boundary but would expand focus to include within the Gaithersburg cluster – possibly moving students to schools that may be relieved of capacity due to the incorporation of Approach 5. ( This is Addressed as part of approach 5 and approach 6)

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Thomas S. Wootton Cluster Roundtable Representatives


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1



February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Karen Collishaw, Wootton Cluster

Coordinator


Approach #1 – Classroom Additions Preferred approach if accompanied by shorter term approaches to alleviate crowding until 2020 (portables and/or #4a below). Pros:

Accommodates walkers at Gaithersburg ES

Maintains needed support services at overcrowded schools

Allows communities to remain intact—maintains accessibility to parents

Gaithersburg community seems to support the enlargement of schools beyond the target 750 Cons:

Need fixes in short term (portables and/or #4a below) Administering to needs of large population is difficult according to MCPS

Approach #2 – New Elementary School Excellent longer term approach Pros:

Growth is inevitable—need to think about long term needs all over the county Cons:

Worried county/state won’t allocate adequate funds—potentially bumps other worthy elementary schools back in the queue

Breaks up existing communities

Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School Not a good approach Cons:

Longer term approach

Eliminates favorably located holding center for other schools undergoing rev/ex projects (e.g. DuFief ES)--would need to identify another holding center upcounty

Breaks up existing communities

Located in Magruder cluster/Resnick ES area

More renovations would be needed to make it workable


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2

Pros:

Could alleviate crowding in short term Cons:

Busing kids out of community not ideal

Delays rev/ex of DuFief ES

Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization Not a good approach Cons:

Question the value of mixing different grade levels over the long term

Middle schools have overcrowding issues of their own—would need additions to accommodate for long term

Most feasible for only one of the overcrowded elementary schools

Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term Could be a viable approach, particularly for Gaithersburg ES, until additions and/or new school can be built—recommend combining with either #1 or #7 Consideration: need further input from community on best grade to move—seems to be consensus around younger kids rather than 5th graders but not yet about whether it should be K or 1st

Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster Reasonable approach, but would defer to Magruder cluster reps Pros:

Reassigns a relatively new neighborhood so would be less disruption to Shady Grove Sector students Cons:

Would likely necessitate redrawing boundaries at other elementary schools in Gaithersburg

Students may lose Title I services in Magruder cluster

Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster Not a reasonable approach for the long term Pros:

Makes some sense from when looking at map to reconnect the Fallsmead “island” at Rio so that there is a contiguous area for the Wootton cluster.

Cons:

Extremely concerned about long-term growth planned for areas within Wootton district both within Crown/ Belward/Life Sciences North and in other areas of the cluster (near Travilah and with DuFief taking on additional students from Rachel Carson ES)

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3

Only relieves Rosemont ES in short term

Breaks up existing Rosemont community

Wootton ES’s with the most capacity (Cold Spring and Travilah ES’s) currently are the furthest away from the Rosemont area—DuFief ES already to be filled with Rachel Carson students

Concerned about a domino effect on Wootton ESs—would need to redraw boundaries to balance the number of students at each school/accommodate new students

Wootton has limited capacity at MS and HS levels given current CIP plans—the WHS has historically been very overcrowded as people tend to move into the cluster area when their kids approach/reach high school age

Limited ability to grow the size of Wootton HS given roads, lack of parking, characteristics of adjacent property and the relatively small site on which it is situated

Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments Preferred approach only if moving portions of Rosemont ES to the Wootton cluster are truly considered and not a done deal given the future growth planned in the Wootton cluster. Pros: Same as #1, #5, and #6 above Cons: Same as #1, #5 and #6 above

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Approach Evaluation Form TriCluster Roundtable Discussion Group

February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Nancy Chen Deprey, Wootton Cluster Representative



● most favored and comprehensive for long and short term approach ● meets all the schools’ needs of accommodating students without relocating them ● meets students’ and families’ needs by allowing them to maintain attendance in current

schools (proximity/walker status), ● continued provision of desired services (Title 1, Linkages to Learning, Schoolbased health

services), and maintaining sense of community ● short term needs use portables until completion of classroom additions ● long term needs is the building of a new elementary school (approach 2)


● needed to accommodate the growing population of Gaithersburg that cannot be handled by the classroom additions (approach 1)

● meets needs of overcrowded schools in close proximity to location of new school (Jeremiah Park ES relieves overcrowding of Washington Grove and Rosemont) but does not help the other ES (Gaithersburg and Summit Hall)

● research into a more desired new school location is needed Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School

● solution will not work on its own, would need to be combined with other solutions ● since it is currently in Magruder cluster, boundary study will need to be completed ● meets the needs of overcrowded schools in closer proximity (Washington Grove and

Gaithersburg) ● concern that this will affect DuFief ES as they would delay the currently planned rev/ex for 6

months as the holding school wouldn’t be available until then. We are told that the Rachel Carson kids will not be moved to DuFief until that rev/ex is completed.

1

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Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Shortterm

● solution will not work on its own, would need to be combined with other solutions ● meets the needs of overcrowded schools in closer proximity (Washington Grove, Summit

Hall, and Gaithersburg) ● concern that this will affect DuFief ES as they would delay the currently planned rev/ex for 6

months as the holding school wouldn’t be available until then. We are told that the Rachel Carson kids will not be moved to DuFief until that rev/ex is completed.


● not favored for long term ● most manageable for Gaithersburg ES to Gaithersburg MS ● kindergarten is recommended over 5th graders

Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Shortterm

● recommend housing kindergarteners from Gaithersburg ES to Gaithersburg MS until other approaches are made

● successfully done in MCPS (Oakland Terrace ES model) ● this approach would only accommodate Gaithersburg ES ● must be combined with other approaches


● favored approach to relieve overcrowding at several Gaithersburg Cluster ES ● must be combined with other approaches as it will not alleviate overcrowding at other ES ● Magruder Cluster has capacity to accommodate reassigned students at ES, MS, and HS

level. Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I270 to Wootton Cluster

● undesirable geography since the elementary schools with the most space available to accommodate reassignment in the Wootton cluster (Travilah and Cold Spring) are not the ones adjacent to those areas (Stone Mill, Lakewood and Fallsmead), requiring bussing further away.

● opposition to a domino shuffling of kids among the Wootton elementary schools which pulls them from their neighborhood schools to accommodate the added students.

● in Wootton Cluster are existing longterm planned development areas which will bring in over 5000 residential units which will fill and possibly overflow (Great Seneca Science Corridor, Rockshire Giant shopping center, Travilah Grove (Mossburg property), Hanson Farm)

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● projected enrollment of Wootton HS currently cannot accommodate existing students from its feeder area schools even after Rev/Ex without reassignment let alone students being reassigned

● Wootton HS is not conducive to being built much larger than it currently is and the middle schools don’t have the space for reassignment.

● Dufief ES will not be able to accommodate any students due to students being redistricted from Rachel Carson not to mention the kids that are already planned to be added to DuFief from Rachel Carson

● Gaithersburg Cluster apparently favors the approaches that keep their students within their cluster—they do NOT want them to move or break up Rosemont community

● shifting overcrowding problem at Rosemont to overcrowding problem at Wootton does not solve the problem

● discontinues desired school services provided in Rosemont ES (i.e. Linkages to Learning, schoolbased health center, Focus school services) services are not provided at Wootton cluster ES

● no one ES in Wootton cluster has capacity to accommodate all of Approach area, Approach area would need to be split causing a lost sense of community which is a criteria


● Preferred approach for additions see Approach 1 ● Preferred approach for Revitalization/Expansion favored ● Preferred approach for Approach 5 Reassignments see Approach 5 ● Not preferred approach for Approach see Approach 6

Other considerations

● Explore availability of private properties that may be available to purchase to build a new elementary school that are more centralized in location to alleviate overcrowding (e.g. Lakeforest Mall)

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1


March 4, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Byron Johns, NAACP Parents’ Council & Wootton Cluster Bottom line Up Front:

My recommendation is primarily based on my understanding of the preference of the Gaithersburg minority populations most effected. It results in increased density & concentration of high academic load students, which could have negative consequences unless additional resources and highly skilled instructional leaders are made available to deliver equitable educational opportunities for the Gaithersburg students. The desire of parents to maintain nurturing, supportive communities and maintain access to the additional educational and health services provided in their current schools also carries significant weight in this recommendation.

Short term (1-2 years)

a) Put portables in Gaithersburg ES, Strawberry Knoll ES and Summit Hall ES b) Send Gaithersburg ES Kindergarten students to Gaithersburg Middle School c) Reassign boundaries for Washington Grove to absorb part of Summit Hall ES d) Reassign boundaries for Rosemont new development west of I270 (Crown Farm

& Decoverly) to Wootton Cluster. Make assignments to schools closest to communities (Stone Mill, Lakewood, Dufief) to minimize bus travel times and maximize parent participation. This should not require a “domino” of reassignments to the outer boundary schools that are under capacity.

e) Move Shady Grove sector development to Magruder cluster.

Mid Term (3-4 years)

a) Build classroom additions to maximum capacity Rosemont, Strawberry Knoll, Summit Hall and Washington Grove.

b) Redesign Wootton HS renovation to increase capacity c) Rebalance boundaries

Long Term (> 4 years)

a) Build a new ES in a Gaithersburg cluster location that is central to the projected highest population growth areas

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2


Approach #1 – Classroom Additions I support as a mid-term partial solution to increase capacity in Strawberry Knoll, Summit Hall and Rosemont. If Gaithersburg ES is not already built to maximum practical capacity, consider adding classrooms. I have concerns about the impact of increasing the density/concentration of ‘high academic load’ students, and trade-offs of the social-emotional supports from maintaining nurturing like-minded communities, parental involvement & engagement, and the ability to effectively & efficiently deliver educational support services Approach #2 – New Elementary School I support this a key component of a long term solution. The school should be in the area of the highest density trying to keep the concept of walkers or maximize the probability of minimal bus transit for kids and maximum public transportation access for parents Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School Creates more problems than it solves. This facility is needed for swing space Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term Better than 3 but provides minimal benefit for the cost and disruptions for all stakeholders Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization I do not support. The community and other stakeholders did not feel this is a long term viable solution. Concerns are high for exposing young 5th graders to Middle school age behaviors and issues. Also a student pointed out that the 5th graders are the leaders in the ES, thus they lose leadership opptys and the school would have no one to lead patrol. Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term I am favorable towards this as a short-term solution especially for Gaithersburg, given the high numbers of walkers and the close proximity of the ES & MS. Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster I am favorable towards this as a component of the solution. Also, I have concerns that the addition of what will be high-end housing families will have the unintended collateral consequence of putting Title I schools in jeopardy of eligibility to receive all the funding and support services that Title I provides.

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Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster I am favorable towards this as a component of the solution. Also, I have concerns that the addition of what will be high-end housing families will have the unintended collateral consequence of putting Title I schools in jeopardy of eligibility of receiving all the funding and support services that Title I provides. In the 6 year planning horizon shown, the Wootton cluster shows capacity at the ES & MS level, however there is known new development already approved that will likely add significant growth to the Wootton cluster just outside the 6 year timeframe. The HS is planned for modernization within the next 6 years, thus with some creative architectural planning & incremental costs the HS capacity should be increased by several hundred above the current plan. Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments I am favorable towards this as a component of the solution but it is insufficient as a stand-alone approach. It does not provide a near term solution.

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1



February 24, 2016

Representative Name and Affiliation: Brian Rabin, Wootton Cluster Coordinator


Approach #1 – Classroom Additions This is an excellent long term approach that will provide additional capacity at the schools that desperately need to relieve significant overcrowding. This approach will take a minimum of four years and there is a strong likelihood the rev/ex will take longer due to the delays or reductions in CIP funding. Adding additional capacity at existing schools will keep the community together, maintain walkability, and will provide continued access to the many services that the community and schools depend on. While Gaithersburg ES will be a higher than the usual capacity of 740, the higher capacity will allow the Gaithersburg ES students to remain at the school where a large majority of the students walk. Since this approach is a long-term approach of 4 years or more, it is important to consider short term approaches, in addition to approach #1, which can relieve overcrowding now.

Approach #2 – New Elementary School This is not a good approach due to the available sites being outside the area that is overcrowded. However, if there was a site either public or private that the County can purchase/lease, then this could be a good option as a long-term solution.

Approach #3 – Reopen Emory Grove Elementary School As with Approach #3, this is not a good option since Emory Grove is outside of the area where overcrowding is occurring. The bus ride would be long to get to the site and would create a big inconvenience for parents that drive their kids. Also, it would make it difficult for the community to be involved in school activities due to the distance from the neighborhoods where the overcrowding is occurring.

Approach #3a – Utilize Emory Grove for the Short-term This is not a good approach for a short term option for the same reasons as Approach #3. Additionally, it is important to maintain Emory Grove as a holding school for rev/ex projects.

Approach #4 – Grade Reorganization This is not a good approach as students from K-5 should remain together in one school. Furthermore, the middle schools are projected to have significant overcrowding by 2018-2019 when a grade reorganization would take place so the overcrowding at the elementary schools would exacerbate the overcrowding issues at the two middle schools.

Approach #4a – Grade Reorganization for the Short-term This is a good approach for the short term while the additions are being built. The best scenario for this approach is to shift the Kindergarten from Gaithersburg ES to Gaithersburg MS due to the short distance between schools. This approach does not work well as a short-term solution for the other elementary schools due to the distance between the elementary schools and the middle schools.

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Approach #5 – Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to Magruder Cluster This is a good approach to relieve overcrowding in the Gaithersburg cluster due to new developments. Magruder cluster appears to have the capacity to manage the increase in enrollment in the cluster depending on other developments that are not currently accounted for. However, this approach will cause more challenges than solutions. The approach would relieve overcrowding at Gaithersburg, Strawberry Knoll and Summit Hall but does not address overcrowding at Rosemont. It may not be a good option for Gaithersburg ES students to be transferred to Washington Grove since most of the students walk to school and Washington Grove is further away. Also, the rev/ex for Summit Hall has been delayed many times and they have been dealing with the overcrowding issue for years. There should be a commitment to keep the Summit Hall rev/ex on track regardless of CIP funding. The only part of this approach that can be a true solution for overcrowding is reassigning the Shady Grove Sector Plan to the Magruder cluster. The rest of the approach leaves more questions than answers. There is nothing in this approach or any others than addresses the overcrowding at the middle schools and Gaithersburg high school.

Approach #6 – Reassign Area West of I-270 to Wootton Cluster On the surface this seems to be a good approach to relieving overcrowding due to new developments. However, the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan calls for significant development that is partially in the Wootton cluster. Additionally, many new developments are not included on the projections since they were not approved at the time the CIP was published. In reviewing the new developments on the Montgomery County Parks and Planning Office website, there are many multi-family units that are being built in the area (a number in the Stone Mill area that could cause overcrowding there). The six year projection does not provide the entire picture of growth in the Wootton cluster. There are many new developments and existing developments west of I-270 besides Crown. Wootton high school has been overcrowded for many years. In recent year, we have seen some decline in enrollment but the school is still overcrowded. Additional capacity will be added with the rev/ex but with all the new developments and the possibility that the Rachel Carson students at Dufief could articulate to Frost and then Wootton it does not appear that the Wootton cluster could accommodate this approach without causing overcrowding to shift to the Wootton cluster.

Approach #7 – Additions, Revitalization/Expansion, and Reassignments This approach is good in relieving overcrowding at Gaithersburg, Strawberry Knoll, and Summit Hall. The reassignment of the Shady Grove Sector Plan seems like a good change as stated in #5 provided there is no future developments that could have an impact on enrollment in the Magruder cluster. The boundary change for Rosemont to space available between Gaithersburg and Wootton could be effective if the impact on future development to the Wootton cluster is considered as stated in #6.

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Appendix E

Position Papers

Position Paper of Steve Augustino March 7, 2016

1

Position Paper of Steve Augustino on the

Tri-Cluster Roundtable Discussion Group’s Approaches to Address Space Deficits at Gaithersburg Cluster Elementary Schools

March 7, 2016

My name is Steve Augustino, and I am a former cluster coordinator for the Gaithersburg Cluster, former Area VP for MCCPTA and (for nine years) former Chair of the CIP Committee of MCCPTA. I present this position paper as a concerned citizen regarding approaches to address the space deficits at Gaithersburg Cluster elementary schools. I appreciate the opportunity to share my perspective on solutions to provide sustainable relief for the Gaithersburg Cluster. After participating in all of the meetings during the Gaithersburg cluster capacity study in 2014-15, and participating as an alternate at the roundtable this year, I have a deep understanding of the problems facing the Gaithersburg cluster’s elementary schools. As discussed below, the Gaithersburg cluster has two separate issues facing different groups of its schools. The solution to the problem, therefore, must also be two-fold. It is clear to me that Approach 7 (also known internally within the Gaithersburg cluster as “Approach G”) is the most viable solution to implement. Under Approach 7, MCPS would take three steps to remedy Gaithersburg’s elementary overcrowding. First, it would remedy the overcrowding at the three schools that account for 70% of Gaithersburg’s lack of capacity (Gaithersburg ES, Strawberry Knoll and Summit Hall) by building permanent capacity at those schools immediately. Building at these three schools is the only way to address their capacity deficits and preserve the walking communities and values of the schools. In addition, elementary capacity in the Wootton or Magruder clusters are not geographically proximate to these schools, making re-districting untenable. Second, MCPS would preserve capacity at Washington Grove ES to address future Gaithersburg enrollment growth by re-districting some or all of the development under construction along Crabbs Branch Parkway in Shady Grove Westside to the Magruder cluster. Third, once capacity within the cluster is preserved (and additional capacity is built in step 1), MCPS can conduct a boundary study for Rosemont Elementary to alleviate the overcrowding that it is projected to experience. With capacity having been preserved within Gaithersburg (notably, at Washington Grove and Summit Hall), this boundary study would present multiple options for alleviating growth expected as a result of further development at Crown Farm. Many neighborhoods, not just the Crown Farm neighborhood, could be considered in this boundary study as a way to distribute enrollment more evenly and to develop and preserve local school communities within the Gaithersburg cluster. As part of step 3, alternatives in the Wootton cluster could also be considered, due to the adjacent communities in the Washingtonian and Decoverly areas, but this step should be approached cautiously as internal growth within Wootton appears ready to overwhelm the available elementary capacity within the cluster (and there appears to be a lack of capacity at the middle and high school levels).


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To implement Approach 7, I recommend that the Board immediately amend the requested FY 2017-2022 Capital Improvements Program (a) to add addition projects at Gaithersburg Elementary and Strawberry Knoll Elementary and (b) to accelerate the Summit Hall Elementary rev/ex or implement an addition or other suitable interim measures to alleviate overcapacity while awaiting the rev/ex project. With how often the county delays rev/ex projects, it is folly to believe that Summit Hall can wait any longer for relief. Gaithersburg’s Immediate Problem – Overcrowding at Gaithersburg Elementary, Strawberry Knoll and Summit Hall MCPS records demonstrate convincingly that the past and current problems with elementary capacity in the Gaithersburg cluster are driven by three schools. These schools are: Gaithersburg Elementary School, Summit Hall Elementary School and Strawberry Knoll Elementary School. Collectively, these three schools account for 534 students of the deficit of 745 students projected in the FY2017 CIP (2021-22 projections). That’s 71% of the total deficit projected in the CIP. Gaithersburg’s current problem is the overcrowding at these three schools. That should not be surprising in the least, because two of these schools have been overcrowded for ten years, and the third has almost doubled in enrollment in the same 10 year period, eating up all of the available capacity of the building and then some. Before discussing the history relating to these schools, it is important to be mindful of an important caveat regarding MCPS capacity numbers. MCPS "capacity" numbers can be deceiving, as they are influenced by class sizes and the particular program mix at the school. For example, without any physical modifications, rated capacity at these three schools has increased by 247 "seats" since 2011-12. Despite this deceiving increase in capacity, the deficit still grew by 177 students. (In other words, enrollment grew by the 247 seats added due to new adjustments and then by an additional 177 students). And this is only current enrollment/capacity. Future capacity looks even worse at these schools. Whether MCPS declares the building able to house 611 or 771 students (in the example of Gaithersburg Elementary School), nothing can hide the fact that housing 866 students now or a projected 970 students in a few years is causing harm to the ability to properly educate these students. Here is the situation facing these three schools1: Gaithersburg Elementary. Gaithersburg ES has been the hare in this story. Since receiving a 15 classroom addition in 2005, Gaithersburg ES enrollment has almost doubled, growing from 463 to 866 (and still going). Almost all of that growth is local, caused by a significant increase in students from the multi-unit housing within walking distance of the school. Indeed, Gaithersburg elementary is a shining example of a “walkable” community that the U.S. Surgeon General recommended in his “Step it Up!” Call to Action. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/walking-and-walkable-communities/#Step It Up!

1 Data on the enrollment and capacity of these schools is included in Attachment 1 to this position paper.


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Over 90% of students at the school walk to the elementary school (and would walk to middle and high school also). As roundtable participants noted, this proximity enables both student and parent engagement at the school that is not available in a busing community. Parents, for example, attend parent meetings in the morning after dropping children off at school. Older siblings stop to pick up elementary students while walking home from their own middle or high school days. Students who are late – for whatever reason – can still make it to school, while many would stay home the entire day if they had missed the bus to another school. Parents also noted their ability to pick up students during emergencies or for health reasons because the school is within walking distance of their home and/or work. These parents, many of whom lack personal transportation, expressed concern with approaches that would move their children to more distant locations in other clusters or at the Emory Grove center due to the difficulty they would have in reaching those school locations. Summit Hall Elementary. Summit Hall has been over capacity since the 2005-06 school year. It was placed on a watch list for an addition in October 2009. MCPS conducted a feasibility study for an addition in 2010-11. Then, Summit Hall got placed on the rev/ex list, and its addition was discarded. Meanwhile, the rev/ex has been delayed several times, with a current completion date of 2023 that is itself tenuous in these uncertain budget times. Importantly, whenever that rev/ex gets completed, and assuming a customary build to 740 students, Summit Hall not only will have room for all of its current 672 students (or its projected 657 students), but also will have room for 75-100 students in possible re-districting within Gaithersburg. Strawberry Knoll. If Gaithersburg Elementary is the hare, Strawberry Knoll is the tortoise. Like Summit Hall, Strawberry Knoll has been overcrowded for ten years – since the 2005-06 school year. Like Summit Hall, Strawberry Knoll was placed on a watch list for enrollment in October 2009 and had a feasibility study for an addition in 2010-11. Since that time, Strawberry Knoll’s enrollment has steadily crept up from the mid 500’s to the mid 600’s. Meanwhile, it was waited … and waited … and waited for an addition to be proposed to address its current population. The cluster wide capacity study showed that an 8 classroom addition is feasible at the school, and that its cost would be a very reasonable $6 million. Future Capacity Concerns at Rosemont Elementary and Washington Grove Elementary

If the past (and current) problems are dominated by three schools, Gaithersburg’s future is represented by Rosemont and Washington Grove elementary schools. One school is approaching capacity now and the other has nearly 200 spaces available. However, due to increased enrollment projected by two of the county’s dense, transit-oriented developments, both schools are projected to run out of capacity by the end of the CIP projection period. (And this is well before these two developments will be completed.) Rosemont Elementary. According to the projections in the 2017-2022 CIP, Rosemont is nearly at its current capacity of 613 students. The Gaithersburg cluster-wide capacity study determined that Rosemont potentially could add four classrooms and 69 seats with an addition. However, Rosemont is projected to have an enrollment of 863 students in 2021-22, 250 students over its


4

current capacity. Almost all of this new enrollment comes from development in the Crown Farm area, which will add up to 2,250 new housing units over the next 10-15 years. Washington Grove Elementary. Washington Grove was expanded in 2008 and currently has nearly 200 seats of available capacity. However, the Shady Grove Westside sector plan has up to 6,020 housing units planned (over 20 years) and most of the sector plan is within Washington Grove’s service area. Most notably, the developments along Crabbs Branch Parkway will add nearly 2,500 units and phase 1 is under construction already. Largely due to this development, MCPS projects that Washington Grove will grow by 180 students in the next five years, completely filling its available capacity. Comments on Approaches and Criteria There was significant agreement among roundtable participants on several issues and criteria. First, the roundtable agreed that Gaithersburg faced both immediate and long term problems, and that no single solution could address all of its issues. Second, the roundtable expressed interest in keeping Gaithersburg Elementary’s walking community intact. No solution other than building at Gaithersburg Elementary would preserve this walking community. Third, the roundtable expressed concern that the available capacity within the Magruder and Wootton clusters was both not geographically adjacent to the Gaithersburg cluster and was likely needed to address expected growth within the cluster already. Neither cluster wanted to see Gaithersburg’s overcrowding alleviated by overcrowding the neighboring cluster instead. Projected growth resulting from the Crown Farm community (which feeds to Rosemont) and the Shady Grove Westside development (which will feed to Washington Grove) are the next big issue facing the Gaithersburg cluster. The roundtable discussed many solutions to addressing these projects. However, it was clear that neither cluster could completely integrate the growth from these communities without overwhelming the capacity in those clusters. The Gaithersburg cluster has no desire to simply export its problems to another cluster. Therefore, re-districting is not a panacea, and it can play only a small part in the overall plan. Fourth, the roundtable agreed that cost-effective solutions should be preferred and recommended that all characteristics should be considered, including the availability of suitable sites, the size and building characteristics of the site and the impact that the solution has on communities. Based on discussions and the roundtable’s criteria, the best solution is the three-step Approach 7. Only Approach 7 provides a solution for Gaithersburg’s immediate problems and also for Gaithersburg’s long term challenges. Approach 7 will preserve Gaithersburg Elementary’s walking community. Approach 7 also would implement cost-effective solutions. For example, at the November 2015 CIP hearing, MCPS estimated that an 8 classroom addition at Strawberry Knoll would cost approximately $6 million. Even if a Gaithersburg Elementary addition is more expensive, building at these two schools will cost significantly less than acquiring a new school site and building a new elementary school. (Further, the cost of the Summit Hall rev/ex already is fully included in the 2017-2022 CIP, so there is no net increase in the six-year CIP in prioritizing this project over others.)


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Thus, Approach 7’s build-first plan is necessary and reasonable as a means of addressing overcrowding within the Gaithersburg cluster. Moreover, Approach 7 provides (in steps 2 and 3) the only long term solution to expected growth from the dense, transit-oriented developments of Crown Farm and Shady Grove Westside. Approach 7 takes steps to maximize available capacity within the Gaithersburg cluster and then provides the best chance to re-distribute the enrollment within the cluster if possible. I note that Rosemont’s service area is an odd shape, and there are a number of sectors that could be examined for potential re-distribution within the cluster. These include distinct areas such as the Summit avenue area (near Old Town), West Deer Park Road, King Farm and Crown Farm. Expected capacity at Summit Hall, Washington Grove and, potentially, at Rosemont are all potentially logical solutions for these different sectors. By considering these sectors within a larger boundary study, MCPS can reach a sensible solution that balances enrollment and preserves natural communities within the cluster as much as possible. The remaining approaches all have only part of the solution or have other drawbacks that make them less ideal than Approach 7. The principal concerns are listed below: Approach 1. This approach provides relief for the current (and past) overcrowding and would preserve the walking community at Gaithersburg Elementary. However, this approach does not provide any relief for the enrollment growth Rosemont or Washington Grove will experience as a result of the new development at Crown Farm and Crabbs Branch Parkway. Approach 2. This approach does not preserve a walking community at Gaithersburg Elementary. In addition, the only existing site in the cluster (Woodwards Road) is not suitable for development. It has a narrow frontage, a significant slope at the back of the property and an existing cable/cell tower lease on the property. Building at Woodwards Road does not appear to be cost-effective, nor would it address future overcrowding. Similarly, the Jeremiah Park site (in Crabbs Branch) has not been sited yet (its first draft did not collocate the school and the public park), is only 4 acres and would not provide a solution for Gaithersburg Elementary or Strawberry Knoll. Approach 3. This approach provides some potential relief, but primarily for Strawberry Knoll. For Gaithersburg Elementary, the location is not convenient for parents that rely upon public transportation and would involve busing students rather than preserving its walking community. In addition, loss of the Emory Grove site as a holding school would significantly impact upcounty elementary schools in the rev/ex queue and likely would require construction of a brand new school as a holding center in the future. This is not cost effective, as a new elementary school would cost $28-30 million. The alternative to use Emory Grove in the short term (Approach 3a) is an interim solution only, but is not preferable to building new capacity. There was some concern as to whether it is feasible to send only a single grade level to the school and the impact that this would have on the school as a whole. Approach 4. Approach 4 was not seen as a solution for Strawberry Knoll, Summit Hall or Rosemont. The Gaithersburg Elementary community seemed open to exploring the idea, due


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only to the fact that Gaithersburg Middle is adjacent to the school and still within walking distance. The logistics of moving either 5th grade level or kindergarten level was not fully developed and there seemed to be some concern with the net impact this would have on cohesion and school operations. We understand that MCPS has only limited experience with this approach and I consider it a last resort. Use of portables may still be preferable as a short term solution. Approach 5. Some portions of this approach are incorporated in Approach 7 and could be viable. It does not appear that this solution could solve all of Gaithersburg’s capacity issues, and even if it did, there was concern that the Magruder cluster could not take on all of the Shady Grove sector plan. Approach 6. This solution did not appear to be feasible. The Wootton cluster has a large amount of new development planned, and has several projects (such as the re-development of the Rockshire center) not included in current projections. Thus, there was significant skepticism in the Wootton cluster as to whether the cluster really had the capacity that it appears to have. Moreover, any capacity available is not adjacent to the Strawberry Knoll, Gaithersburg Elementary or Summit Hall service areas, and the capacity adjacent to the Rosemont service area seems to be very limited. Finally, development of the Life Sciences center project will bring significant new enrollment to Wootton as well as to Gaithersburg and it does not seem that the current plans can fully accommodate this growth. There was concern that re-districting other portions of Gaithersburg to Wootton would exacerbate this problem. Summary For the above reasons, Approach 7 is the best solution to the Gaithersburg cluster’s capacity issues. MCPS has now diligently explored all available options and it is now time to move forward with solutions. I urge the Board to adopt Approach 7 and to move forward – in the 2017-2022 CIP – with immediate additions to Strawberry Knoll and Gaithersburg Elementary. In addition, the Board should prioritize the Summit Hall rev/ex and consider an interim addition that is integrated into the rev/ex project in order to relieve a school that has been overcrowded for 10 years. Summit Hall should not wait through the uncertainties of the rev/ex queue. Thank you for the opportunity to provide these views. I remain willing to meet with MCPS, the Board and/or the County Council to discuss these issues further. Steve Augustino 8008 Lions Crest Way Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Attach 1_Augustino position

paper March 7, 2016Gaithersburg ES

Year Enrollment MCPS cap space (deficit) Source

2021 (proj) 970 771 ‐199 FY17 Rec

2015 866 771 ‐95 FY17 Rec

2014 795 771 ‐24 FY16 MP

2013 761 732 ‐23 FY15 MP

2012 730 657 ‐73 FY14 MP

2011 654 611 ‐43 FY13 MP

2010 596 647 51 FY12 MP

2009 531 740 209 FY11 MP

2008 493 740 247 FY10 MP

2007 481 729 248 FY09 MP

2006 473 731 258 FY08 MP

2005 463 757 294 FY07 MP 15 RMs, SBHC

2004 509 450 ‐59 FY06 Rec

Enrollment has increased 403 since 2005‐06

Since 2011‐12, MCPS "added" 160 "seats" but deficit grew anyway

February 24, 2016

Gaithersburg Overcrowding Roundtable Position Paper: Candlewood ES PTA

Thank you for allowing the Candlewood Elementary School PTA to provide input for the roundtable process. We know from our own Candlewood experience at the Emory Grove holding facility that busing kids miles away can be difficult for a community. So, our representatives were pleased to offer several reasonable and creative alternatives to alleviate the problem on a more sustainable level within the Gaithersburg cluster. Our focus was to correct as many of the systemic issues in the Gaithersburg cluster, itself, so that communities can be kept whole. The first four proposals speak quite well to that overall objective. We suspect that some combination of those four approaches will get the Gaithersburg cluster where it needs to be in the immediate, intermediate, and long term. Our representatives were also pleased to narrow the language somewhat for Approach 5, but It should be noted that when we presented the approach in general terms to the Candlewood community at a PTA meeting, it was met with enormous resistance. We recognize the round table process was not designed to produce a specific outcome, but rather to offer general recommendations for the superintendent to consider. We believe that Approach 5 will continue to meet resistance from the Candlewood community, and we address those issues in further detail below. We would also like to state that since Approach 6 does not impact the Magruder cluster, our inputs would not be fair to add at this time. We would also like to recognize and thank Bruce Crispell, who chaired the meetings, enabled honest and open dialogue, and allowed us to be creative in our approaches, while simultaneously constraining us with the practical realities that exist in the county. He was also gracious enough to speak to Candlewood families at our school. He did an excellent job. We appreciate his leadership. Approach 5: Reassign Shady Grove Sector Plan to the Magruder Cluster The Candlewood representatives currently oppose Option 5 due to a lack of specificity. This lack of specificity makes the proposal ambiguous to the impact on the Magruder cluster. It is possible that the language will potentially be better defined in subsequent boundary studies, but we have significant concerns, as written. We also recognize there were constraints precluding this level of specificity due to the general roundtable process. However, as currently proposed and projected, moving the entire Shady Grove new development sector will likely cause overcrowding at our schools, either near term at an elementary school level, or later as students follow a matriculation path through the cluster. We recognize that Candlewood has the ability to be expanded, but this option does not deal with the overcrowding issues in the Gaithersburg cluster, it just transfers the intermediate and long term problem to the Magruder cluster. This is not acceptable to us. Nor should it be acceptable to anybody in Montgomery County to just

shift the problem from one place to another. We therefore propose the following three levels of specificity:

1) Narrow the Shady Grove potential boundary change through greater specificity: Candlewood Elementary School just endured 18 months of difficulty for our community so that the current facility could be built. This process was a hardship on students, teachers, families, and the entire neighborhood. Yet, if the proposed number of Washington Grove students is redistricted to Candlewood, then the current projections show that our new school could potentially be overcrowded again within the next 18 months! Our community did not think we endured an arduous 18 month process just to be in an overcrowded scenario 18 months from now.

- Moreover, the specifics of potential construction for expanding the current Candlewood facility – while students are still studying in that very same building – raises a host of questions and concerns that were not addressed by the roundtable, due to general roundtable constraints.

If Approach 5 is selected, then we request please to see more specific projections of moving the boundary for just the new construction. We would please like to see projections whereby whatever multi buildings that are west of the metro (the planners mentioned two buildings currently annexed to Rockville) – all of that stays annexed and anything else remains in the Gaithersburg cluster. In other words, we would like to see if redistricting just the new construction – without including existing housing – would be sustainable … since otherwise the current projections forecast potential overcrowding again within 18 months.

2) Service the entire matriculation path: If students are added to the Magruder

cluster, then facilities throughout the matriculation path should immediately be expanded to accommodate the extra students in the cluster. Our roundtable only spoke to the elementary school level, without addressing the potential problems of absorbing additional students in middle school or high school.

3) Define the holistic approach: The cascading effects of Approach 5 throughout the Gaithersburg cluster were not specified. We did not discuss specifically from what other Gaithersburg schools would Washington Grove Elementary School subsequently then absorb new students to fill vacant capacity. These decisions could have great effect on the accessibility of schools for students and even social services offered if Title 1 services changed as a ramification of busing for certain students or even certain schools.

The Candlewood community is willing to help alleviate some of the overcrowding in the Gaithersburg cluster, but only in a sustainable way that does not simply shift overcrowding and a perpetual need for construction back again to our community. Therefore, we need greater specificity please, as outlined in this paper. We also recognize that there is no easy solution for this complex issue, so that many Approaches will need to be adopted.

report of the tri-cluster roundtable discussion group - candlewood elementary school pta · 2016....

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