The Montgomery County school board’s request for $37 million in new funds for construction and building improvements, most of which would have provided security upgrades at several schools, has been shot down by the county executive.
Late last year, the school board requested amendments to its six-year capital improvements program to “address technology upgrades to various existing security systems,” as well as provide secure entrances and guided building access at schools that don’t have those features.
But when County Executive Marc Elrich unveiled his plans for the county’s capital budget and amendments to its current Capital Improvements Program Wednesday morning, the additional $37.6 million requested by the school district was not included.
About $28 million of that total was budgeted for security improvements.
“None of that is frivolous, all of it was necessary and our needs are so backed up and have been so long delayed that we’re crumbling at the seams,” school board Vice President Pat O’Neill said. “I realize other agencies took a big hit, but it’s a problem.”
Maryland estimates there are about $800 million in backlogged construction projects in Montgomery County.
The school district receives about $1.775 billion of the county’s $4.3 billion fiscal 2019-2024 capital budget, adopted last year.
In a prepared statement, Elrich said he tried to craft a capital budget that avoided reducing funds for the school system. He added all previously approved projects retained the same funding in today’s proposal.
Other projects that would have been funded with the school board’s proposed capital budget amendments were maintenance of high school athletic fields, expanding Seneca Valley High School’s Career and Technology Education program and funds to plan additions at Highland View Elementary School in Silver Spring, Lake Seneca Elementary School in Germantown and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Gaithersburg.
“I regret that we did not have enough funds to support the Board’s increased funding requests,” Elrich said in a statement. “We must generate additional funding to support more classrooms, security enhancements, and investments in infrastructure. I will work with the Council, the Board of Education, our state legislative delegation, the Governor and advocates to pursue all options for funding our schools.”
Previously approved projects in the CIP include a major renovation project at Northwood High School in Silver Spring and additional renovations to build 625 classrooms in 26 additions at schools countywide.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
