A first-of-its-kind look at the physical conditions in Montgomery County’s 206 public schools was published online this week.
The new data was released after the school system hired a consultant to analyze the schools, looking at more than two dozen components ranging from roofing and plumbing to fire protection and wall and floor finishes.
Along with infrastructure components, data collected examined the quality of aesthetics such as classroom shapes, temperature control and natural light.
Most schools were given color-coded ratings that indicated little to moderate work is needed in the near future, but a handful were in a category indicating the school is near the end of its anticipated life span and may soon need major repair, rehabilitation or replacement, according to school staff.
“This is an important tool, but it is just one tool in our capital planning,” said Essie McGuire, executive director of the office of the chief operating officer. “There’s nothing to draw automatic conclusions from in this data. The answer to the ‘what’s next’ question is still combination of factors.”
Montgomery County, which has the state’s largest school system, spends about $360 million each year for school construction and renovation projects.
McGuire and Seth Adams, director of the school system’s division of construction, said overall schools’ infrastructure is good, but what stood out in reviewing the data was the condition of some “aesthetic components” at many schools.
“The data definitely showed conditions that need attention, and that follows a theme and conversations we’ve been having about our capital program,” Adams said. “Sometimes that stuff is hard to quantify and justify funding for, and hopefully now this will help justify different types of funding or approaches moving forward. These are the things that seem small but can have a real, positive impact on people.”
The information will be used in conjunction with utilization, capacity and programming information to guide capital improvements, so the infrastructure data does not necessarily mean schools with the worst designations are top priority for an improvement project.
During public hearings about the school system’s capital budget earlier this year, students and community members urged the school system to do basic maintenance at their local schools, like repainting areas with peeling paint and ensuring air conditioners and heaters work properly.
Data obtained about the condition of security systems will not be published, McGuire said, citing safety concerns. In future months, the school system will add information to the data dashboard about Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. A feature will also be added to examine school quality by level and cluster, McGuire said.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
