MCPS shares ‘The Hard Truth’ in report to parents and teachers

[Fran Murphy]

Montgomery County Public Schools face some new challenges moving forward. That was the message in a report published Thursday on their website and shared with parents and educators.

Titled “The Hard Truth”, MCPS lists some newly released statistics that will shape operations of the school system in the years ahead. The county Board of Education will review the informational report on the proposed 2028 Capital Budget and the amendments to the 2027-2032 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).

“Hard Truths”​

Among the alarming realities are declining enrollment, aging school buildings and rising costs of repair. Given these projections, “…the district must rethink how it invests in its facilities…. Doing nothing is not an option.”

Enrollment continues to decline with a decrease of more than 4,000 students this year alone. Preliminary numbers for this school year include 151,967 students. A six-year projection puts the student population of MCPS at 143,479. In 10 years, that number falls to 137,825.

Repair to existing schools​

Fewer students mean the system must rethink its current facilities and resources to provide the best learning environment in the future.

Three out of four of the 126 schools built or renovated before 2000 have been evaluated as needing critical infrastructure to remain open and serve students and teachers well.

The rise in construction prices of items like a new HVAC system for existing high schools puts the price tag at $15 to $20 million more than previous estimates.

The Board of Education will hold public hearings on Monday, Oct. 26, and Tuesday, Oct. 27, in addition to November sessions to review the proposed CIP. The Board is currently scheduled to act on the Capital Improvements Proposal on Thursday, Nov. 19.

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