DES Cluster Representative: Linda Freuh

CIP Task Force Representative: Kelley Rogers

The CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) Task Force is a group of DES Parents who are focusing their efforts on improving the physical building and grounds of our school. The task force has been working with various groups, including MCPS, the County Council and the Board of Education in order to keep some of the County's focus on our aging school.

In late October, MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Jerry Weast, announced the inclusion of an expansion of Darnestown ES in the 2011-2017 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP).  This is a significant hurdle in our quest for expansion, but there are two key steps remaining:  the Board of Education must add their recommendations, and the Montgomery County Council must vote to appropriate the funds in the spring.  If those two requirements are met, the expansion will begin a 1.5 year planning period, followed by a 1.5 year construction period.  The target completion date for the opening of the expansion would be fall of 2013. Also included in the superintendent’s CIP recommendations are restroom renovations in the existing building.  The time-frame for those renovations is 2011-2012, and will be contingent upon replacement of the existing septic system.

We are eagerly awaiting news of the Board of Education’s recommendations for expansion of Darnestown ES.  While the MCPS superintendent has recommended expansion, the Board of Education must agree to the request before sending the request for funding by the Montgomery County Council in the spring.  If all these hurdles are met, the school will enter a 3-year planning and construction phase with a target opening date of August 2013.  Please stay informed and involved in this process – funding by the County Council is far from certain, and we will need your voice to make our case for Darnestown in a tough economic climate!

For more information about the CIP process, click here to view the MCPS CIP recommendations.

Darnestown Elementary School is part of the Northwest Cluster of Schools within Montgomery County. All the schools in the area work toward common goals that affect the schools within the Cluster. DES feeds into Lakelands Park Middle School and then into Northwest High School. Below is the list of all the schools within the Northwest Cluster.

Roberto Clemente also has students from Christa McAuliffe ES and Sally Ride ES. However, these students go on to Seneca Valley High School.

Lakelands Park also has students from Rachel Carson ES and Brown Station ES. However, these students go on to Quince Orchard High School.

Diamond ES splits at Great Seneca Highway with students living South of Great Seneca Highway attending Ridgeview Middle School, then Quince Orchard High School.

Great Seneca Creek ES splits at Middle School sending students to both Kingsview Middle School and Roberto Clemente. However, all the students from Great Seneca Creek ES attend Northwest High School.