Bullis Approved
<bt>On June 23, the Board of Appeals granted approval for the Bullis School to expand enrollment by 50 percent and construct several new facilities on the 78-acre campus at the intersection of Falls Road and Democracy Boulevard.
The school's enrollment which had been capped at 604, can now be raised to 900 students, and the summer programs' enrollment has been set at the same level.
The school may begin to admit more students as soon as next year and plans to begin raising funds for the new construction in 2005, according to a press release. The school plans to construct a new academic building and to renovate the existing buildings.
The school also plans to construct new athletic facilities, such as a new grandstand and a new tennis facility.
<sh>Immersion Decision Still Pending
<bt>Rumors were buzzing that the Board of Education would name College Gardens Elementary School as the location for a new Chinese immersion program at its July 6 meeting, but that was not to be so.
There is currently a Chinese Immersion Program at Potomac Elementary School, which had been open only to students from within the Potomac Elementary boundaries. The Board of Education opened the program to all students in the county on a lottery basis and directed Superintendent Jerry Weast to find a more central location in the county for the program.
Some Potomac parents are working to see that any new program will not mean the end of Potomac’s program, but will instead mean that two immersion centers are available in the county.
The new location, were it to appear, would not be on the agenda until the Superintendent introduces his amendments to the capital improvements budget in October, said Ronald Bowers of the Board of Education staff.
Still, representatives from College Gardens came to speak about their desire for input into any decision regarding their school. "We are asking you to ensure that a community forum be held to provide detailed information about this program,’ said Cynthia Strouse, co-president of the College Gardens PTA.
Strouse was concerned about how the program might be implemented in conjunction with the school’s upcoming renovation, certification for a "Primary Years Program" initiation of a head start program and the upcoming introduction of all-day Kindergarten.
She did not object to the Immersion program beginning at the school, but simply expressed a desire to be involved. "Without the ability to review the detailed implementation plans, including ways to ensure effective implementation of all these programs simultaneously, it is not possible for our community to provide adequate input," Strouse said.
<sh>Science Projects Wanted
<bt>The West Montgomery County Citizen's Association is seeking outdoor science projects done within the Potomac Master Plan area.
The Association is looking for a variety of different outdoor projects such as analyses of plant and animal species and habitats, geological and topographic surveys explorations of areas like Blockhouse Point, the C&O canal or stream valleys like the Watts Branch, Muddy Branch, Cabin John Creek and others..
The final project can take a variety of different forms such as posters, logs, reports, displays, exhibits or projects.
Representatives from the Association will be at the Potomac Library and Potomac Community Center in the fall. For more information call Lois Williams 301-299-7236 or e-mail loiswilliams@starpower.net.
<sh>Arrest
<bt>According to Montgomery County Police, on Thursday, June 24, at 2:50 p.m., Geordan Glasgow Harris, 19, from the unit block of Boat House Court in North Potomac, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, as a result of an incident in the area of Rolling Green Way and Soft Wind Drive in North Potomac.
<sh>Residential Burglary
<bt>Signal Tree Lane. 13400 block: Between 11:02 p.m. June 14 and 7:00 a.m. on June 15. Suspects entered the garage and took dirt bikes.
<sh>Comment Sought on ICC
<sh>The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Montgomery County Planning Board will hear two hours of public testimony on the Maryland State Highway Administration’s three alternatives for the Intercounty Connector, known as the ICC, Thursday, July 15 at M-NCPPC’s auditorium, 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Residents, landowners, civic associations and others have an opportunity to express their views on the proposed alignments, parkland impacts, transportation efficiency, engineering and design, the associated bikeway and other concerns. Since public testimony is limited to two hours, all those wishing to testify in person are advised to sign up in advance by calling the Commission’s Community Relations Office, 301-495-4600. Written testimony may be sent to Derick P. Berlage, Chairman, Montgomery County Planning Board, 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, by fax, 301-495-1320, or e-mail mcp-chairman@mncppc-mc.org.
For assistance with special needs, such as sign language interpretation, large print materials, listening devices, etc., contact Marion Joyce, Community Relations Manager, 301-495-4600, TTY 301-495-1331 or the Maryland Relay Service, 1-800-735-2258.