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Westland Middle School Overcrowding

By
Real Estate Agent with Marcie Sandalow, Compass 301.758.4894

Original Source:  Westland Middle School Overcrowding

bigstock_School_Bell_637146Dr. Weast’s recommendation to the Board of Education to relieve overcrowding within the B-CC cluster schools is now available on the MCPS website:

He is recommending a realignment of both Chevy Chase Elementary School (CCES) and North Chevy Chase Elementary School (NCC) to grades 3-5, and the opening of a new middle school for the cluster, at which time, 6th grade in these schools would transition to a middle school environment.

An excerpt of his recommendation follows below:

…. Consistent with Board Policy IEB, Middle School Education, I strongly believe that Grade 6 students’ academic, social, and emotional development are better achieved in a middle school setting than in an elementary school setting. Although the Grade 6 students at Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase elementary schools have consistently performed at very high levels academically, middle school provides a more appropriate environment for students to developconfidence, competence, and independent decision-making skills in a culture that supports and challenges students academically and encourages them to explore their interests.Because of the small number of students in Grade 6, Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase elementary schools have not been able to provide the same level of opportunities for students to achieve the goals set forth in Policy IEB. In addition, because the elementary school day is shorter than the middle school day, the elementary school schedule limits the opportunities for enrichment and program opportunities for Grade 6 students.

I am recommending that Grade 6 students at Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase elementary schools be reassigned to the middle school level as soon as a new middle school can be opened in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cluster. To accomplish this, I am recommending that a site selection committee be formed in winter 2011 to identify a location for a new middle school in the Bethesda- Chevy Chase Cluster. This new middle school would provide the capacity needed to relieve Westland Middle School’s over-utilization and enable the Grade 6 students from Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase elementary schools to be assigned to a middle school. The site selection committee will include representatives from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cluster and MCPS Department of Facilities Management staff. The committee will be charged with identifying a suitable site for a new middle school in a centralized location.

Once the site selection committee process is complete, I am recommending that a facility advisory committee be formed in spring 2011 to conduct a feasibility study for the new middle school. The purpose of the feasibility study will be to determine the scope and cost for a new middle school on the selected site. The facility advisory committee will include representatives from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cluster, MCPS Department of Facilities Management staff, and members of the community.

By completing the site selection and feasibility studies during FY 2011, the superintendent of schools will have all of the necessary information to make a request in October 2011 as part of the FY 2013–2018 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for planning and construction funds for a new middle school. A completion date for the new school and timeframe for the reorganization of Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase elementary schools also will be recommended in October 2011 as part of the FY 2013–2018 CIP. Boundaries for the new middle school, and related changes to Westland Middle School, will be developed one a half years prior to the opening of the new middle school.

Although my preference would be to implement the reorganization of Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase elementary schools as soon as possible, due to the increasing enrollment at Westland Middle School, there is not sufficient capacity at the school to accommodate the 200 additional Grade 6 students. Therefore, I am directing staff in the Office of School Performance to evaluate the Grade 6 programs at Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase elementary schools to find ways to implement as strong an academic program as possible at these schools until these students can be reassigned to middle school. Efforts to ensure a Grade 6 experience at the elementary schools comparable to a middle school will continue to be a challenge given the enrollment constraints at these schools—about 100 Grade 6 students at each school—and the reduced time these students spend at school—30 minutes less per day than students in middle school.

A request for funding will be made in October 2011 as part of the FY 2013–2018 CIP for addition projects at Bethesda, North Chevy Chase, and Rosemary Hills elementary schools. No addition will be recommended for Chevy Chase Elementary School. ….


 

Posted by

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Marcie Sandalow is a realtor with Evers & Company Real Estate, Inc. in Chevy Chase, DC.   
With 15+ years in the business, and a sharp understanding of her client's needs, she serves Buyers and Sellers
in and around Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Washington, DC, Kensington, Rockville, Silver Spring and Takoma Park. 

E-mail:  marcie@bccdcrealestate.com
Cell:  301/758-4894

Website:  BCCDCRealEstate.com and DCHouseSmarts.com

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