Lt. Governor Brown Announces Record Three-Year Commitment to School Construction

O’Malley-Brown Administration invests over $1 billion in just three years; $120 million in Montgomery County

 

BETHESDA, MD (April 17, 2009) – Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown joined Montgomery County school board officials and members of the Montgomery County House and Senate delegations to announce a record three-year investment in public school construction. During the press conference, held at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Brown announced that in the three years since taking office, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has successfully invested more than $1 billion in school construction, including nearly $125 million in Montgomery County.

“Governor O’Malley and I understand that these are tough times. But even during tough times, we must protect our progress and fight even harder to put our Families and our Kids First,” Lt. Governor Brown said. “We have the best schools in America, but it’s not because of luck. It’s because we’ve made the tough decisions to invest in our human capital, and that investment starts in our public schools. Together, in just three years, we’ve invested more than $1 billion in school construction – more than the previous administration invested in four years. We made that investment because we believe that we have an obligation to get our kids out of temporary learning shacks and into first-class, technology-ready classrooms.”

Earlier this year, Education Week ranked Maryland public schools the best in the nation, up from Number Three in 2008 and Number Five in 2007. In addition, the College Board recently announced that Maryland’s high schools lead the nation in Advance Placement participation and performance. To protect this progress, the O’Malley-Brown Administration, along with members of the General Assembly, fought this year to increase funding for public K-12 education.

“There are pressing needs for school construction money in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland,” said Board of Education Vice President Patricia B. O’Neill. “The benefits of the financial commitment of state and local governments to this need for updated school facilities are readily apparent here at Walter Johnson High School.”

The FY10 budget, which passed last week, includes a record $5.5 billion for education and it is the first in history to fully fund the Geographic Cost of Education Index. In addition, the budget included $260.3 million for school construction, bringing the three year total investment for school construction to $1.001 billion. The O’Malley-Brown commitment to school construction is nearly twice as large as the previous administration’s investment over a comparable time period; and in just three years, Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown have invested an additional $184 million in statewide school construction than the previous administration invested in four years.

“Montgomery County has one of the best school systems in the nation, and good education doesn’t come cheap.  County residents owe a vote of thanks to Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown for their strong support of our schools.  As a Walter Johnson graduate, I’m especially pleased that this year’s budget dedicates $13.6 million to complete the Walter Johnson renovation,” said Senator Brian Frosh (District 16).

The O’Malley-Brown Administration has increased school construction investments in Montgomery County. Since taking office in 2007, the State has invested nearly $125 million to renovate and modernize schools in Montgomery County, a 40 percent increase over the previous administration’s four-year investment (FY04-FY07).

“The Administration, in collaboration with the General Assembly, is wisely investing our State’s scarce financial resources precisely where they need to be, in our children and in our future,” said Montgomery County House Delegation Chair Delegate Brian Feldman (District 15).

During the press conference, Brown highlighted the State’s contribution to the renovation at Walter Johnson High School. The FY09 budget included $13.7 million for the first phase of renovation. Brown presented the Walter Johnson community with a ceremonial check representing an additional $13.6 million that is included in the FY10 budget.

“I truly appreciate the commitment of our state and local officials as they make sure that funding is provided for school construction. The state-of-the-art facilities and campus being built at Walter Johnson and at other schools in Maryland are exactly what our students deserve in the 21st century,” said Walter Johnson High School Principal Dr. Christopher Garran.

“As a student at Walter Johnson High School, I am very excited and grateful for the contributions from the state. As a track and field athlete, I know these contributions get us new facilities like our gym and weight room. Soon, we will also have an incredible new eight lane track to add to our beautiful school,” said Duane Wilson, a senior at Walter Johnson High School and Student Government Association President.

The renovation at Walter Johnson has added additional wings to the original building and classrooms have been modernized. When the project is complete, the school’s 250,000 square foot facility will house over 2,500 students.  The phased construction project is slated for completion in August 2010. Walter Johnson High School has been ranked several times in recent years by Newsweek as one of the top 100 public high schools in America.

 

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