Mayor and Council testimony presented during a Nov. 8 county school board hearing addressed priorities for all five school clusters serving City of Rockville students.
The Mayor and Council thanked county schools Superintendent Jack Smith for recommending that the under-construction Richard Montgomery Elementary School No. 5 be built to accommodate 740 students. This would ensure that the school does not exceed capacity soon after opening in fall 2018.
In testimony presented by councilmembers Beryl L. Feinberg and Virginia D. Onley on Smith’s Fiscal Year 2019 capital budget and six-year Capital Improvements Program, the Mayor and Council also:
- Advocated for short-term “maintenance renovations” at Twinbrook Elementary School and approval of a revitalization/expansion, or “rev/ex,” for the Richard Montgomery cluster school as soon as is feasible.
- Supported recommendations for the Rockville cluster, including a Maryvale Elementary School rev/ex, to be completed in January 2020, that includes co-location of the Carl Sandburg Learning Center.
- Urged a Thomas S. Wootton High School rev/ex as soon as possible, citing community concerns about heating and cooling system issues, roof leaks and insufficient and unsafe parking.
- Backed the board’s approval of a committee to study whether a new elementary school, multiple building additions or a combination of the two are needed to relieve overcrowding in the Gaithersburg cluster, which serves part of the city’s King Farm neighborhood.
- Supported Smith’s recommendation to reopen the former Woodward High School in North Bethesda. The school would alleviate overcrowding in the Walter Johnson cluster, which serves students from the city’s southern portion.
School officials attended a Mayor and Council work session on Oct. 30 to discuss school construction. Find video of the work session at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.