Dr. Jennifer Reesman

Earlier this evening, I testified before the The Montgomery County Board of Education about regional school capacity, deteriorating buildings, and Wootton High School’s permanent future on Wootton Parkway. My testimony focused on three main issues: 1. MCPS’s own data reinforce concerns I raised before the March Wootton decision: Our Central Region high schools are projected to grow by 3% in just 4 years and MCPS's own Central Region Summary shows a 101% capacity by 2030-31. Richard Montgomery already relies on 9 portable classrooms! 2. School conditions deserve serious attention. Of the five worst-conditioned elementary schools and five worst-conditioned secondary schools, 70% are in or serve the greater Rockville-Gaithersburg area. Our area also accounts for 54% of the 26 worst-conditioned schools overall. MCPS should establish a transparent, funded investment plan prioritizing the most deteriorating schools. 3. Our region needs a permanent Wootton High School on Wootton Parkway, operating separately from Crown and Churchill. With Central Region high schools projected to be virtually full or over capacity, we should be preserving the capacity our communities will need, not permanently giving it up. I am calling for a funded plan to rebuild or comprehensively renovate Wootton at its Rockville campus. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting today to testify and show support! Plan for the growth. Fund the repairs. And rebuild Wootton on Wootton Parkway. @fox5dc DC Coverage: fox5dc.com/news/montgomery-c… @ModeratelyMoco Publication of Full Testimony: moderatelymoco.com/van-grack… – at Rockville, MD