Feasibility Study Wheaton High School and Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Prepared for Montgomery County Board of Education NovemberOctober 2011 2011 By Grimm + Parker Architects Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools Table of Contents I. Introduction 1 II. Executive Summary 7 III. Scope, Methodology & Goals 17 IV. Existing Conditions 19 V. Description of Options 27 Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools I. Introduction This modernization feasibility study for the Wheaton High School (WHS) and Thomas Edison High School of Technology (TEHST) was produced for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) by the architectural firm of Grimm and Parker Architects under the direction of staff from the MCPS Division of Construction. Wheaton High School is located at 12601 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20906 (Downcounty Consortium) and the Thomas Edison High School of Technology is located at 12501 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20906. Currently both schools are located on the same site and share the same facility (fig. 1). Prior to the feasibility study, the Thomas Edison High School of Technology and Wheaton High School Roundtable Advisory Committee (Roundtable) explored various options Fig. 1 - Existing Site to define the relationship of these two schools. A wide range of approaches were analyzed by the Roundtable. These approaches included a one school model, a model that created two independent programs, and hybrid models that addressed the facility and program issues for the two schools. The Roundtable members represented a wide range of stakeholders, including MCPS staff, students, parents, school staff and administration, Montgomery College representatives and business leaders. During the process, the committee expressed aspirations and goals for the modernization of the two schools. This input influenced the modernization options that were explored during the feasibility study. At the conclusion of the Roundtable process, the Board of Education voted that the feasibility study for the modernization of the Thomas Edison High School of Technology and Wheaton High School facilities include options to maximize the use of 1 Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools I. Introduction Continued space that will enhance future growth for both Thomas Edison High School of Technology and Wheaton High School and include two options: (1) two buildings on the site, and (2) one building with separate entrances, separate identities, and driveways. MCPS staff provided the architect with preliminary space summaries for each school to guide the development of the two options. The space summaries and educational specifications will be finalized concurrently with this feasibility study. Feasibility Study Participants The feasibility study participants included many of the same Roundtable Advisory Committee members as well as additional school and community members. The feasibility study participants met on a regular basis, between April 2011 and June 2011. Seven meetings were held, and one final community presentation where the results were presented to the community at large. The study process was inclusive and incremental. As the meetings were held, the feasibility study moved forward by building on the previous meetings’ comments on the respective design options. Grimm and Parker Architects would like to thank all of the feasibility study participants for their time and commitment to this task. Their enthusiastic attitude, creative ideas and thorough analysis have helped make this study meaningful for the school system and the community at large. 2 Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools I. Introduction Continued Feasibility Study Participants Mr. Carlos Hamlin Principal Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mr. Kevin Lowndes Principal Wheaton High School Mr. James Song Director MCPS Department of Facilities Management Mr. Michael Shpur Architect MCPS Division of Construction Mr. Dennis Cross Project Manager MCPS Division of Construction Ms. Debbie Szyfer Senior Planner MCPS Division of Long-range Planning Ms. Jillian Storms Architect Maryland State Department of Education Mr. Hugh Abrams-Helde Student Wheaton High School Ms. Cecily Adams Neighbor Wheaton High School Community Member Mr. Claude Allen Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Judie Artman Staff Wheaton High School Mr. William (Ed) Ball Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Aaron Baughman Neighbor Community Mr. Steve Boden Coordinator Foundations Office Mrs. Patty Broda Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Laura Brown Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Taylor Brown Reporter Wheaton Patch Mrs. Julie Broyles Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mr. M. Bruce Neighbor Greater Glenmont Civic Association Mrs. Nikki Bucci Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Heather Carias Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Jack Chizik Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mr. Marty Creel Director MCPS Department of Enriched and Innovative Programs Mr. Bruce Crispell Director MCPS Division of Long-range Planning Ms. Karen Danco Supervisor MCPS Division of Consortia Choice & Application Program Services 3 Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools I. Introduction Continued Feasibility Study Participants Ms. Clara De la Rosa Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Kristen Dean Neighbor Wheaton Community Member Ms. Theresa Defino Parent Thomas Edison High School of Technology Community Member Mr. Paul A. Del Marr Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mr. Donald Farb Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Judith Flaherty Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Jeannie Franklin Director MCPS Division of Consortia Choice & Application Program Services Mr. George Gadbois Parent Wheaton High School Community Member Mr. John Gallagher Staff Wheaton High School Mrs. Lisa Gerhardt Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Jean Gries Planning Specialist Montgomery County Dept. of Transportation Mrs. Juli Griffin Gross Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Colleen Haardt Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Sharief Hashim Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Lucy Hayes Member NAACP Mr. Tom Helde Parent Wheaton High School Community Member Mrs. Ellisa E. Hidalgo Staff Wheaton High School Ms. DeAngela Hill Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Stan Holcomb Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Pat Hurley Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mr. John Hydro Neighbor Community Member Mrs. Amy Johnson Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Harley Langenstein Student Rockville HS/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Simeona Leon Parent Wheaton Community Member Ms. Sol Leon Student Wheaton High School Ms. Kenia Lobo Student Wheaton High School 4 Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools I. Introduction Continued Feasibility Study Participants Ms. Joan Locastro Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Jeffrey Luker Parent Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Catherine Marzen Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Jesse McGee Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mr. Stan Melt Neighbor Community Mr. Stan Metta Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mrs. Carlene Murray Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Matthew O'Neil Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Patricia Parks Monteith Parent Wheaton High School Community Member Mr. John Petro Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Mr. Joe Pospisil Planning Specialist Montgomery County Dept. of Transportation Mr. Scott Price Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Andrea Robertson Staff Wheaton High School Dr. Maura Ryan Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Joan Sabaka Co-chair SEAC Ms. Jeanne Salvado Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Paola Scazzoli Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Leo Schwartz CTF / ATF / ITF Mr. Dave Shaffner Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Grant Shmelzer Member IEC Chesapeake Ms. Talia Shnider Staff Wheaton High School Mr. Tom Siegrist Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Catherine Sobieszczyk Staff Wheaton High School Mrs. Sandra Sundlof Staff Wheaton High School Ms. Natalie Thomas Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Russie Tran Student Wheaton High School Ms. Anne Turner SEAC 5 Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools I. Introduction Continued Feasibility Study Participants Ms. Katerine Urbina Staff Wheaton High School Mrs. Stephanie Valentine Staff Wheaton High School Mrs. Maureen Wallerstedt Staff Thomas Edison High School of Technology Ms. Jennifer Wood Staff Student-Wheaton High School Mr. Eric Zolkiewicz Staff Wheaton High School Mrs. Lauren Zolkiewicz Staff Wheaton High School 6 Wheaton High School/Thomas Edison High School of Technology Modernization Feasibility Study Montgomery County Public Schools II. Executive Summary Purpose The purpose of this feasibility study is to develop options for modernizing Wheaton High School (WHS) and Thomas Edison High School of Technology (TEHST), determine