MCPS: News on Upcounty Holding School Site Expected 'Later This Fall'

A site selection committee's recommendation for an upcounty holding school could be announced "later this fall," officials told Patch.

For months, a group of residents, planners, public officials and school officials has vetted potential upcounty holding school sites, said James Song, MCPS director of facilities management. The committee's recommendation would be sent to MCPS Superintendent who will then submit the committee's recommendation to the Board of Education, Song said.

The MCPS website listed a "site selection advisory committee" meeting 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown, in which attendees would prepare a recommendation to the superintendent "on a site for the New Holding Facility for an elementary school in the upcounty area."

Song would not elaborate on when a site would be announced to the surrounding community or the public and said he was unable to say whether the committee had chosen a single site from the "eight or 10" up for consideration. Song also said that parts of site selection advisory committee meetings were often closed to the public since land acquisition was being discussed.

What is a holding school and why are they needed?

Holding schools are buildings that temporarily house students and staff while their home schools undergo major renovations. Upcounty elementary schools need upgrading, but all four holding facilities for elementary schools are downcounty, which could result in long commute for kids, Song said.

During its Feb. 8 meeting, the board unanimously agreed to enter into a $44,560 contract with Proffitt & Associates Architects "to provide feasibility study services" for an elementary holding school site at Waring Station, according to the school board's minutes.

Funds for contracted feasibility studies were programed in the 2011 capital budget, according to school board records.

In some parents' eyes, this board vote sent things off to a contentious start.

The chief complaint among parents and residents was that the school system appeared to them to be going forward with a feasibility study without having formed a site selection committee first. They also thought the Waring Station location would be inadequate for a holding facility and may pose environmental harm.

Discord reverberated to throughout the blogosphere, where some parents regularly turned correspondences between school officials into blog material.

The board reportedly put that feasibility study on hold, the Gazette reported in March, following an appeal from citizens.

Song said that once the board approves a site selection, then feasability funds would be allocated for the study.