Parents demand action on Ashburton Elementary overcrowding crisis in Bethesda

The Montgomery County Council held a public hearing on January 31, 2025, addressing critical issues surrounding overcrowding at Ashburton Elementary School. The meeting featured testimonies from concerned parents, highlighting the urgent need for action to alleviate the school's capacity challenges.

One parent, Ms. Colville, shared her personal experiences with the overcrowding at Ashburton, which currently serves 878 students, making it the largest elementary school in the county. She emphasized that the school has been overcrowded for years, with a capacity study conducted in 2019 projecting a significant deficit in seating by 2024. Despite recommendations for a new school, no action has been taken, and new developments in the area have only exacerbated the situation.

Ms. Colville described the impact of overcrowding on her children, noting that her son's second-grade teacher has had to evacuate the class multiple times due to behavioral issues, highlighting the strain on staff and resources. She also pointed out that her kindergartner, who has a speech delay, struggles to receive adequate support in a classroom with limited staff. The lack of resources has hindered her son's progress, illustrating the broader implications of the overcrowding crisis on students with special needs.

The testimony underscored a growing frustration among parents regarding the county's failure to address a known issue. Ms. Colville called for additional funding to tackle the overcrowding at Ashburton, echoing sentiments shared by other community members. The council members listened attentively, acknowledging the concerns raised and the need for a comprehensive response to the ongoing challenges faced by the school.

As the meeting concluded, the council's next steps remain crucial in determining how they will address the overcrowding issue at Ashburton Elementary School and support the affected students and families in the community.