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MCPS exploring options for Whitman High School addition

By WTOP Staff

Walt Whitman High School, via MCPS

MCPS last week revealed three early designs for an addition to overcapacity Walt Whitman High School.

All three would use the land of the existing Whittier Woods Center (once an elementary school, now a daycare facility in front of the school) for a new building that would likely include 13 regular classrooms, two science labs, two engineering labs, one art room and an auxiliary gym.

MCPS senior planner Deborah Szyfer presented the three potential designs to parents and other community members on Tuesday. Another open to the public meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 6. The 2:30 p.m. start time is geared for staff just after the regular high school day ends.

As is the case with all three school clusters in Bethesda, the Whitman cluster has seen a large increase in students — particularly at the elementary school level. MCPS planners have said turnover in single family neighborhoods, private school students transferring to public schools during the recession and an uptick in the birth rate are all contributing factors.

Whitman High School was remodeled in 1992 and has an existing capacity of 1,882 students. It’s already overcapacity, with a projected 1,910 students this school year and 1,921 students last school year.

Whitman High School and the Whittier Woods Center (top right corner) that could be part of an addition project for the school, via Google MapsWith that in mind, plus the coming surge of elementary and middle school-aged children in the cluster, MCPS recommended and was given money in the current capital budget for an addition feasibility study.

Szyfer said next year’s freshman class at Whitman will be “the first very large class,” and the school will is projected to be 239 students overcapacity by 2019. The school is projected to pass the 2,000 enrollment work during the 2015-2016 school year and hit 2,121 students by the 2019-2020 school year.

By then, MCPS hopes to at least have the money to fund an addition project that would provide a capacity of 2,300 and perhaps have that addition project already under construction.

One option would be a combination one-story and two-story building with a courtyard in the area where the Whittier Woods Center stands now. Another option would provide for a more compact three-story addition and a third concept would be two-stories with room for yet another addition.

Szyfer said planners are considering that option because of the Westbard Sector Plan, which could mean new residential development along Westbard Avenue and River Road. Many school-aged children in that new residential development would be in the Whitman cluster.

“It would allow more options for the future and we’re trying to plan for that future,” Szyfer said.

Architects will continue to do site planning to come up with cost estimates, Szyfer said, before submitting the project to the superintendent next year for consideration in his FY2017-2022 capital budget request.

But as is often the case with school addition and renovation projects, the Whitman addition will be competing against a number of other projects in a number of other overcapacity school clusters.

The daycare that leases out the Whittier Woods Center would be notified of when it must vacate the building once funding is in place.

The three concept plans presented last week should be put up on the MCPS website soon, Szyfer said.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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