Education Committee Addresses ‘Shortening’ of State Construction Funding
The Montgomery County Council Education Committee is hoping to get county public schools back on track with a proposal to request approximately $750 million for new school capacity projects from the Interagency Committee on School Construction as discussed in their work session Monday morning.
County councilmember Phil Andrews says that the school system has been shortened by at least $100 million by the State, and he intends to make sure this changes.
“We have to keep the pressure on,” Andrews said. “It’s a substantial amount every year…and we have to keep our eye on it. We’ve been consistently shortened by the State in school construction.”
On Oct. 31, County officials and members of the County’s State Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly announced the new initiative, which will be voted on at the County Council meeting on Tuesday. This is not part of the County’s annual State aid for School Construction request.
“It concerns me that we have continuously been let down by the board of public works,” said councilmember Craig Rice during the committee meeting. “People at home need to be aware. We’re going to have to hold our candidates responsible for this,” said Rice.
The County submits a unified request each year to the IAC in the form of a letter signed by the Council president, the County Executive, the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education president.
Find the entire State Aid for School Construction Request resolution here.
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