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Speakers urge council to restore school construction funds, fix maintenance backlogs

2240418 · January 31, 2025

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Summary

At a Montgomery County Council public hearing on the FY26 capital budget and FY25–30 CIP amendments, city and parent leaders urged restoring construction funds for Twinbrook Elementary and Wootton High, funding auditoriums at Woodward and Crown Farm high schools, and increasing HVAC and roof-repair funding across Montgomery County Public Schools.

At a Montgomery County Council public hearing on the FY26 capital budget and amendments to the FY25–30 capital improvements program, local officials and parents asked the council to restore construction funding for several Montgomery County Public Schools projects and to increase allocations for maintenance and system replacements.

The appeals focused on Twinbrook Elementary School, Wootton High School and auditorium and systems work at several new or renovated high schools. Monique Ashton, mayor of Rockville, told the council the executive’s recommended CIP “removes $3,000,000 in out years expenditures for the Twinbrook Elementary School major capital project” and asked the council to ensure the project remains in the FY25–30 CIP. She also said the Twinbrook building “is not ADA compliant” and “the students deserve a new building.”

Amy Ackerberg Hastings, central area vice president for the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA), asked the council to provide full funding of MCPS’s requested FY25–30 CIP amendments. She said the county executive and MCPS agree on increases to finish school auditoriums, asking the council to back increases that include $28,000,000 more for Woodward High School to complete its auditorium interior and $20,000,000 for Crown Farm High School to finish its auditorium, classrooms, labs and stadium. Ackerberg Hastings also supported a $4,500,000 increase for HVAC repair and replacement and stressed the importance of the Building Modifications and Program Improvements (BMPI) program.

Speakers raised several other specific needs. Mayor Ashton expressed concern that planning and construction funds for Wootton High School were removed from the recommended CIP and urged the council to “add this project back and expedite the need to rebuild that building.” She also asked for prompt installation of fencing at Meadow Hall Elementary School after thefts of Chromebooks and supported moving forward with an MCPS materials management facility. Ackerberg Hastings highlighted a failing roof at Cabin John Middle School and reiterated frustration over delays at Cold Spring Elementary, Wootton High and Twinbrook Elementary.

None of the testimony recorded a formal vote; speakers sought changes to the proposed capital budget and CIP amendments and urged the council to hold MCPS and the county executive accountable for timelines and transparency.

The public hearing record shows parents, municipal leaders and MCPS advocates pressing for both large capital projects and for funding that addresses long-standing maintenance backlogs.

Speakers listed in this report spoke during the school-related testimony and are quoted directly where indicated.