Opinion

Opinion: Montgomery County must stop passing the buck on school infrastructure

Local officials must create a more transparent, accountable long-term plan

By Adam Van Grack

April 29, 2026 10:46 a.m. | Updated: April 29, 2026 10:47 a.m.

Montgomery County prides itself on our incredible public schools and our amazing school staff. Our schools drive our economy, strengthen our neighborhoods, and prepare the next generation; however, too many school facilities are drastically falling behind.

For example, at Thomas S. Wootton, Col. Zadok Magruder, and Damascus high schools, families have raised concerns for decades about aging infrastructure and safety, and all three schools have faced delays and shifting timelines. All three schools were clearly identified for major investments at different points, only to be delayed or completely removed from budgets without transparent explanations. The scheduled renovation of Twinbrook Elementary School in Rockville was also inexplicably removed from this year’s budget.

When it comes time to take responsibility, county leadership points in every direction. The Montgomery County Board of Education, county executive, and County Council each have a significant role in the choice as to when and how schools are renovated or rebuilt. All three make consequential decisions. However, far too often, all three bodies point to each other when those decisions have significant, negative impacts on communities.

Recent reporting by Bethesda Today shows the council making line-item decisions on school funding, including synthetic turf investments. While the school board presents a Capital Improvements Program (CIP), the council regularly makes specific adjustments. This is shared authority, and it should come with shared accountability. Instead, communities throughout the county are left with uncertainty and shifting plans.

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At Wootton High School, the path has shifted from long-awaited and previously approved renovations to a draconian decision to close the school and relocate students many miles to another city rather than invest in the facilities. At Magruder High School, timelines have moved repeatedly with no consistent rebuild commitment. These are not isolated issues; rather, these facts reflect a system that lacks alignment, accountability, and ownership.

Montgomery County needs a clearer and more accountable plan.

First, create a transparent, multi-year modernization schedule through a formal joint process that includes the board, executive, and council. These entities cannot simply remain in their respective lanes. Each body must be actively engaged in setting objective priorities, timelines, and funding assumptions from the outset. For example, they could create a joint commission or working group with representatives from all three bodies, tasked with developing and regularly updating a publicly available renovation schedule. That process should be objective, data-driven, and transparent, with clear criteria and timelines that are not subject to constant revisions, political preferences, or shifting responsibilities.

Second, commit to fully funding modernization through a comprehensive financing strategy. High school rebuilds now exceed $200 million and delays only increase costs. Our county should seriously consider innovative funding methods, such as public-private partnerships, adjusted and targeted bonding, and/or stronger coordination with state school construction funding. Dedicated or supplemental revenue streams should also be considered. The current six-year Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) CIP spreads funding across competing priorities without a focused strategy for major rebuilds. We must do better.

Third, enforce accountability across all levels of decision-making. If the board removes a school from the plan, it must justify its removal. If the county executive or council modifies or delays projects, those leaders must take responsibility for that decision. Residents deserve to know who made each decision, why the decision was made, and how those decisions affect their community.

Wootton, Magruder, and Damascus high schools have all faced shifting, uncertain timelines with unexplained removals from approved budgets. That uncertainty undermines trust and delays needed improvements. Montgomery County has the resources, and our leaders know which schools need investment. However, we lack alignment, objectivity, transparency, and a willingness to take ownership.

Until the Board of Education, the county executive, and the council stop passing responsibility and start sharing accountability, these delays will continue — and our students will continue to pay the price.

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine