Showing posts with label classroom trailers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label classroom trailers. Show all posts

Monday, November 10, 2025

Montgomery County schools see ‘sharp decrease’ in student enrollment


...
He said the school system is anticipating a loss of 6,000 students over the next six years. That would bring the enrollment figures down to 149,706 from a high of 165,267 in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the declining enrollment projections, Taylor said, “It doesn’t change the size of our portfolio,” referring to the total 238 school buildings in the school system...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/10/montgomery-county-schools-see-student-enrollment-drop-project-its-part-of-trend/

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Superintendent Taylor is Unable to Install a Classroom Portable?

 Another Petition:  

Demand Immediate Installation of Portables at Waters Landing Elementary –

To: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Leadership & Board of Education

We, the parents, families, and advocates of Waters Landing Elementary School, are calling for immediate action to address the unacceptable learning conditions our students are facing. Despite continued efforts to advocate for the needs of our school community, our voices continue to be ignored. The question must be asked: Is MCPS truly for all?

Our school is overcrowded. The data is clear — classrooms are oversized, and staff and students are forced to function in inadequate, cramped spaces that hinder learning and growth. After tireless advocacy, MCPS finally agreed to provide two portable classrooms — a small but necessary step toward addressing this issue. Yet now, we are told these portables will not be installed until spring — after sitting unused for months on our school grounds.

How is this acceptable?

Can anyone imagine the condition these portables will be in after half a year of disuse, exposed to the elements? How is it equitable to place such burdens on a diverse, high-needs school community — and then delay even the most basic remedies?

Would this delay happen in other parts of the county with smaller minority populations?
Would other schools be expected to wait and suffer under such conditions?

Waters Landing Elementary deserves better. Our children deserve better.

We are asking MCPS to:

✅ Immediately install the already-delivered portable classrooms so students and staff can benefit from them this academic year.
✅ Prioritize overcrowding solutions in communities that are historically under-resourced and overburdened.
✅ Demonstrate a real commitment to equity — not just in words, but in urgent and effective action.

Not only addressing the overcrowding issue but also providing a dedicated room for children who occasionally need a time-out space. Having such a room is vital for children to manage stress and refocus, ultimately supporting their mental health and well-being.

If MCPS claims to listen to families, then listen to us. Our voices matter. Our children matter...

https://www.change.org/p/demand-immediate-installation-of-portables-at-waters-landing-elementary-our-students-des

Monday, October 27, 2025

Superintendent Taylor Prioritizes MCPS Warehouse over Students in Trailers

Superintendent Says It’s Time to Find a New Warehouse as Building Conditions Decline

The condition of Montgomery County Public Schools’ buildings is deteriorating, including the warehouse in Rockville, which was constructed using materials recycled from the World War II era, according to MCPS officials.

Superintendent Thomas Taylor, Ed.D., said he believes it is time to look for a different warehouse location. MCM joined a tour of the current facility Tuesday evening with Taylor and other MCPS officials...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/superintendent-says-its-time-to-find-a-new-warehouse-as-building-conditions-decline/

Friday, May 19, 2023

Update: @mcps Seth Adams Blames Parents for MCPS Poor Planning. Einstein HS will lose Tennis Courts. @mcps Seth Adams to Punish Students for His Poor Planning.

Portable Classrooms Placed at Einstein High School Tennis Court

Albert Einstein High School in Kensington is losing one of its tennis courts to make way for portable classrooms, and athletes there are not happy.

The portable trailers are needed due to over enrollment at the school, explained Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) spokesperson Jessica Baxter...

Portable Classrooms Placed at Einstein High School Tennis Court - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

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Let's remember who is behind all of these decisions. The Board of Education delegated all of their authority so they can hide and deny knowledge of decisions like these.  

From MCPS Staff Directory:



Monday, March 27, 2023

Council wants Planning Board Member that will Overcrowd Schools: Council's Pick James Hedrick for Planning Board Supports Elimination of Housing Moratoriums in Areas with Crowded Schools.









Richard Montgomery High School parking lot classroom trailers.

More on why Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich would veto the Montgomery County Council's selection of James Hedrick as a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board. 

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Elrich to Council: I Matter

...It’s also not surprising that he would veto [James] Hedrick.  I can’t speak to Elrich’s characterization of Hedrick’s temperament and social media statements.  But consider Hedrick’s responses to Greater Greater Washington’s questionnaire.  His positions included:

Wanting to build more than 100,000 housing units by 2040, a larger number than the planning department’s target of 60,000.

Support for the recently passed Thrive 2050 development plan.

Support for legalizing duplexes countywide.

Support for eliminating housing moratoriums in areas with crowded schools...

Elrich to Council: I Matter - Montgomery Perspective

Monday, March 8, 2021

Keep or Toss? Tues. March 9th- County Council to Vote in Closed Session Re: Keeping Public School in BCC Cluster or Permitting Land to be Used without Restriction. No Public Comment.


What is going to happen to the former Montgomery County Public School building and land at 9411 Connecticut Avenue in Kensington?  

The school and land are currently owned by Grace Episcopal Church. The property was transferred to Grace Episcopal Church in 1999.  

The school building was built with tax dollars and has been in continuous use.  Will these empty classrooms be used for public school education or will this public school building be torn down and the land cleared for housing?  

Here's what we know about this property:  The school and land were put up for sale in 2020.  The Offering Summary states that, "Offers will be accepted through October 2020 and seller will evaluate offers and select a purchaser by the end of November 2020."  

The Offering Summary notes that there is a Limitation of Land Use as detailed in the original 1999 Deed for the property.  

The Property has the limitation that it be used for educational purposes.  However, if the Property is to be no longer used for educational purposes the Property is to first be offered back to Montgomery County at the fair market value.  

The Montgomery County Executive may accept the offer subject to Montgomery County Council approval of an appropriation.

IF the Montgomery County Council DECLINES the appropriation of funds to purchase the Property, Grace Episcoal Church may use/transfer the Property for any legal purpose without restriction.  

It appears the Property has been offered back to Montgomery County as the decision on what will become of this former public school site will be made by the Montgomery County Council tomorrow, March 9, 2021 in CLOSED SESSION.  

No public comment, no public notice on what should happen to this paid for public school.  The entire decisionmaking process will happen behind closed doors. 

Will the County Council decide to acquire the school and keep it in use for educational purposes, or will the County Council decline the appropriation and allow the Property to be sold for other uses?  

We would tell you to tune in tomorrow, but the decision will be made in a Closed Session out of the public view. 



Thursday, July 18, 2019

Blair adds four new portables - 3,375 students for Fall 2019. Parents have to Buy Promethean Boards for Trailers.

In 2017, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) added four portables to Blair. Due to the school's increasing student population in the 2019-20 school year, the MCPS Department of Facilities Management is introducing more portables adjacent to the current portables.
According to Principal Renay Johnson, approximately 200 more students will be attending Blair next year compared to the 2018-19 school year when Blair enrolled over 3,200 students. "Right now in the scheduling system, there's 3,375 [students], but you know what happens when school opens: people enroll," Johnson said.
It is likely that the student body will continue to grow, because more people are choosing to come to Blair. "Blair is a choice school...

...Due to limited funds, the new portables may not be equipped with Promethean boards. "Unfortunately, high school portables don't come with [Promethean boards]," Johnson said. "The ones that do have them, I've had to purchase using school funds. I don't know if we'll have enough school funds to get enough Promethean boards, because we have other priorities."..

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Superintendent Jack R. Smith Finds Space for Outside School #MCPS #ClassroomTrailers #Overcrowding

The Georgetown Hill Early School’s Rockville location had a fire last month, and there was a lot of damage. Since then, will be relocating to a nearby MCPS property.
“At the Board of Education meeting on February 25th, the Board approved a request to provide the Georgetown Hill Early School with a short-term lease”, said Montgomery County Public Schools Public Information Supervisor, Gboyinde Onijala.
That short-term lease, officials say will be at two relocatable classrooms at College Gardens Elementary School...

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Rockville City Council studying options that would not stifle development but could crowd school

In an emerging debate over economic growth and school crowding, Rockville City Council members seem split on a proposal that would allow hundreds of additional students at Richard Montgomery High School.
New enrollment-growth projections for the school could trigger a moratorium on residential building and Rockville City Council member Mark Pierzchala has suggested increasing a cap so development could advance.
At a Monday night public meeting, the idea drew concerns...

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Blair's portables address student overflow but present new problems. Addition will put Blair at 3,600 Students.

At the far end of Blair, past the SAC doors and the student courtyard, sit four brand new portables, a mass of beige and wood lazing in the afternoon sun. The portables, a result of Blair's expanding student population, are a new addition meant to help with the increasing Blazer population. 

The new Blair building, which first opened for the 1998-1999 school year, was meant to hold only 2820 students, but currently holds about 3100 students and 307 staff members. According to Blair principal Renay Johnson, Blair's student population will continue to increase each year. "I've been told that every year we get 200 more students until we get up to 3600 students, and then it may stabilize a little bit," she says. 

After Blair reached its capacity last year, MCPS assigned four new portables to Blair that would help alleviate the classroom shortage. "We got brand new portables; sometimes the county refurbishes them from different schools, but these were brand new, constructed on site and they put decking in the front," Johnson explains. 

The recent increase in high school students is a result of an influx of students from elementary and middle schools nine years ago. Student enrollment has gone from 2900 students to 3100 students, and is expected to reach 3300 students by the 2018-19 school year. To help with the second wave of new students, Blair will receive four more portables next year. 

In order to address the growing number of enrolled students, Blair has met with architects and has plans to be renovated and receive additions sometime in the near future. "We had a meeting last April with architects, and they showed us some plans of what it would look like to expand Blair so it would be 3600 students without portable classrooms...

...The time it takes for students to get to the portables has definitely been an adjustment for teachers such as math teacher John Giles who teaches in portable four during periods one, three, seven, eight and nine. He finds that a lot of his students show up late to ninth period because the shortened passing period leaves little time for students to get all the way out to the parking lot on time, sometimes from the complete opposite end of the school. "It's a hike to get here so unless they're like lined up at the door ready to bolt the second the bell rings it is kind of hard for them to get here in five minutes, so they are kind of routinely late," Giles says...

...Agbonselobho Yakubu, the building services manager, described the portables as an increase in the work that is already asked of the building services staff. "It's an extension of what we are doing already, we take on the new workload, that's what it is," Yakubu explains...

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/story/13612

Monday, September 19, 2016

3PM Today: MCPS Ended with $31.4 Million Surplus

Today at 3 PM, the Montgomery County Council's Education Commitee will discuss MCPS' surplus of $31.4 million and the MCPS request to move around $4.2 million.

MCPS wants to move $4 million from Instructional Salaries to pay off a deficit in the Group Insurance Fund.  This translates to less money for teacher salaries (new or raises) due to the funding of benefits for existing teachers.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/cm/2016/160919/20160919_ED1-2.pdf

Monday, June 13, 2016

Durso said lowering all schools by two students would be an exaggeration.

ROCKVILLE – The Montgomery County Council president said reducing the achievement gap among public school students was a major part of the council’s budget but she did not explain how the council would spend money to address it.
County Council President Nancy Floreen (D) referred to a letter she said Montgomery County Public Schools chairman Michael Durso (District 5) wrote in which he explained how the board would address the gap in academic performance between different groups of students.
“The detail is in Mr. Durso’s letter and it hasn’t been fully spelled out yet,” said Floreen...