MCPS receives prioritized list and community feedback on school renovation needs; board requests top-five cost breakdowns

Crabtree Rohrback & Associates senior project manager Joshua Bauer presented an update on five MCPS facilities the board previously asked the firm to study: Harding Avenue Elementary; Gilbert Linkus Elementary; Margaret Beeks Elementary; Montgomery Central; and Christiansburg (Charlottesville) Middle School.

Bauer described outreach that included meetings with administrators, teachers, parents and PTA/PTO groups and summarized commonly-raised priorities: secure vestibules and other safety upgrades; HVAC, electrical and plumbing updates; separate gym and cafeteria spaces where the existing multipurpose room is inadequate; removal of modular classrooms; improvements to student toilet rooms; and better car/bus drop-off configurations.

Specific requests varied by building. At Harding Avenue, stakeholders emphasized enclosing open-plan classrooms, removing modulars and improving the kitchen/servery; Bauer said the building is near capacity and that adding walls could shrink classroom counts and potentially require an addition. At Gilbert Linkus and Margaret Beeks parents and staff prioritized a physical connection to outbuildings (annexes), repurposing annexes for food service and arts/STEM, and improving parking and drop-off. Montgomery Central’s priorities included a secure vestibule, new HVAC, windows and doors, and additional parking. Charlottesville Middle School commenters asked for enclosed sixth‑grade space, renovated toilet rooms, HVAC replacement and removal of corridor lockers to improve traffic flow.

Bauer said the consultant had provided draft cost ranges and that the board had previously seen comprehensive (option) estimates; he offered to prepare a spreadsheet showing the five highest-priority items per school with low- and high-end cost estimates so the board could compare “apples to apples.” Board members asked that ADA-related upgrades be highlighted and that the administration also plan for hazardous-materials abatement as appropriate during renovation work.

Board members discussed consolidation versus renovation and asked for a clearer cost comparison: Bauer and members noted that, depending on options chosen, consolidation could produce multi‑million-dollar savings but that additional study would be required. Members also asked the administration to provide more robust community input and requested that the consultant produce a prioritized “top five” cost list for each school, plus an overall facility plan the board can use to set bond or capital priorities.