Northwood News ♦ April 2004

Northwood High School Funding

By Michael Sauter

Northwood High School will be reopening as a fully operating high school this fall.  The County Council approved $16.5 million to fund MCPS’s request for construction to expand the “core capacity” of the facilities by building an administrative suite in front of the auditorium, a media center in back of the auditorium, and expanding the cafeteria.  $2.5 million of that funding is dedicated to installing central air conditioning in the building.  A little over $9 million in additional funding has been requested in the Board of Education’s current capital budget request.

On Monday, 8 March 2004, County Council President Steve Silverman toured the building with Principal Henry Johnson, his assistant principal, and PTA cluster coordinators.  Mr. Silverman asked to see what was already funded, and what the additional funding would cover.  He was shown the items currently listed as “add alternates” in the plans which are going out to bid shortly.  These include:  science laboratory improvements, including new case work; technology education laboratory improvements; new ceiling tiles throughout the entire facility; painting the entire facility; toilet improvements, including new partitions and replacement of worn fixtures; window replacements throughout the facility; updated telecommunications wiring; and painting existing lockers.  Mr. Silverman appeared to recognize the obvious need for all of these items.

Much of the funding for these items is requested in fiscal years ’05 and ’06, but over $4 million is delayed until FY09-10.  Cluster coordinators informed Mr. Silverman that the community would like that funding pushed up in order for the work to be completed before the first class graduates from Northwood in 2008.

Community members can support Northwood High School by advocating for full funding of the additional funds requested by the Board of Education for reopening Northwood High School.  Contact your County Council members from district 4 Marilyn Praisner (240.777.7968, Councilmember.Praisner@montgomerycounty md.gov).  You can also contact District 5 Representative Tom Perez (240.777.7966, Councilmember.Perez@...), as well as the at-large council­members Nancy Floreen (Councilmember.Floreen@...), George Leventhal (Councilmember.Leventhal@...), Michael Subin (Councilmember.Subin@...), and Council President Steve Silverman (Councilmember.Silverman@...), or the Council generally at county.council@ montgomerycountymd.gov.  The County Council completes decisions on the capital budget close to Memorial Day.

The next Northwood High School PTSA meeting is 20 April 2004 in the Northwood cafeteria.  Come join your community rebuilding education at Northwood High.   ■