Fully-Funded MCPS Construction Budget!

The Montgomery County Capital Improvements Program (CIP), which is the budget for construction, renovations, and modifications to buildings, was revealed to the public on Friday (different budget from Operating Budget). In it, Isiah Leggett, the Montgomery County Executive, recommended to the County Council to fund 99% of the projects requested by the Board of Education for a whopping total of $1.5 Billion. This basically means that all of the projects requested in the CIP will be on track and ready to go. With an over 30% drop in construction costs this year due to the economy, he increased the construction budget by 17% over the next six years.

In summary, the CIP requests 118 classrooms, a new elementary school, a new middle school, and several upgrades to buildings around the county, which include:

1. Additions at 11 schools
2. Planning for 9 ES addition and 1 HS addition
3. The modernization of 3 HS (Paint Branch, Gaithersburg, Wheaton), 3 MS, and 12 ES
4. The construction of 10 new ES gymnasiums
5. Facility improvements at 2 MS
6. Restroom renovation projects
7. Asbestos and ADA Compliance Changes
8. Changes to Roofs, and Heating and Ventilation Systems
9. Planned Life Cycle Assets Replacement (Bleachers, Flooring, Resurfacing, Doors, etc)
10. Technology Modernizations
11. The start of the process for looking into overcrowding problems around the county (Bethesda, etc.)

Here is a copy of the CIP for your viewing pleasure. We thank Mr. Leggett for his commitment to education and look forward to seeing it in the future in the Operating Budget.