Seneca Valley Principal to Advocate for New Building at MCPS Meeting

The Montgomery County Board of Education is heading up to Germantown to meet with the Seneca Valley cluster community on Thursday and Principal Marc Cohen said he believes the community will be advocating for a new high school.

Seneca Valley High School

The meet and greet event starts at 7 p.m. in the Seneca Valley High School media center.

Cohen said the night will give the community in Germantown a chance to not only highlight things that make the Seneca Valley cluster special but advocate for cluster needs.

The school system leaders have endorsed plans for a new Seneca Valley High School and funded planning of that project. But, Cohen said his is “anxious” to see the construction funds for it approved. The plans are to build a new school that will accommodate 2,400 students, nearly double the amount now at the school. The project will alleviate overcrowding at nearby high schools.

“We are approaching a tipping point. The board allocated all the money to get up to groundbreaking and I am cautiously optimistic,” Cohen said. “I know the board is on the record of moving forward but where I get a little anxious is with what is unknown. There is a new governor with new priorities at the state level with allocating money.”

Cohen said he doesn’t believe the recent resignation of Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr will derail constructions plans.

“It is sad to see the system going through that transition, but so many people are involved in the decision-making process that one person doesn’t stop the plans from going forward,” Cohen said.

Cohen said the other focus of the discussion is expected to be on lobbying the board to continue the International Baccalaureate program for grades 9 and 10.

The evening is expected to include a musical performance by an award-winning Roberto Clemente student who played at Carnegie Hall; a Color Guard performed by the SVHS NJROTC; The National Anthem sung by the SVHS Chorus and some academic challenges and games.

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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