Timeline to a new RCF

More than anything I have had questions about the process. It IS really confusing, for all of us. But here is how it works:
date action
11/11 -11/12/2009 Board of Education holds public hearings on the FYI 2011-2016
11/19/2009 BOE votes on CIP – vote held and CIP passed
11/30/2009 Final requests for state aid due
12/2009 Ike Leggett, County Executive reviews BOE request
1/15/2009 (tentative date)Ike Leggett, County Executive presents his recommendations.
1/27/2009 (tentative date)Board of Public Works hearing on CIP (tentative date)
2/20/2009 LAST possible date for the Governor to propose his Capital Budget
Feb – May, 2009 County Council holds hearings on CIP
4/5/2009 Both state houses vote on budget
May, 2009 County Council approves the FY 2011-2016 CIP and funding for the 2011 Capital Budget

Ok, so, that’s clear as mud. As you can see, it is a process that requires four/five separate stakeholders to buy in. The Board of Education, the County Executive, the State House and Senate, the Governor all need to do their part to make this happen.

Right now the BOE has approved the CIP, which is great. BUT, if the state does not give them the money, and we should be VERY concerned that they won’t, then the BOE needs to make some choices about what to do.

Now, they work their way down three lists of 1)schools additions 2) schools modernizations 3) high school modernizations. But what mix of funding they choose is where we need to be concerned.

Historically, the BOE has favored additions over modernizations – they are cheaper and they please more constituencies. That means that modernizations get pushed back.

40X40 -- pass it on

We are all frustrated and concerned about the pace of modernization at Rock Creek Forest. That is why we have developed a three prong strategy to: 1) get the funding we need from the Governor and state delegation 2) make sure it is allocated by the county council and 3) make sure the Board of Education remains focused on Rock Creek Forest ES.

Our theme is 40X40 – forty years since our last renovation; 40% over capacity. Please try to incorporate this phrase into your communication, we will be building a campaign around it.

Here what you can do:

1) Contact the Board of Education immediately, to ask that they
a. Prioritize modernizations and avoid the past tendency to put additions before modernizations, thereby punishing older, more run down facilities.
b. Adopt the Capital Improvement Plan
c. Remember Rock Creek Forest 40X40
Board of Education contact information: boe@mcpsmd.org or individually Shirley_Brandman@mcpsmd.org ; Phil_Kauffman@mcpsmd.org ; mailto:Patricia_O ; Judy_Docca@mcpsmd.org; Laura_Berthiaume@mcpsmd.org ; Chrisopher_Barclay@mcpsmd.org Michael_A_Durso@mcpsmd.org; Timothy_T_Hwang@mcpsmd.org

2) Contact the County Council and let them know that:
a. Our school is “40X40.” 40 years since it’s last renovation and 40% over capacity.
b. Regardless of what district they represent, RCF represents the entire county through the immersion program;
c. Even in tight economic times, we expect that they will fund our school’s modernization, which requires funding the CIP.
d. We have waited long enough.

County Council Contact information:
councilmember.andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov ; councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov ; councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.ervin@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.trachtenberg@montgomerycountymd.gov

3) Contact your state delegate and let them know:
a. Our school is “40X40.” 40 years since it’s last renovation and 40% over capacity.
b. Regardless of what district they represent, RCF represents the entire county through the immersion program;
c. Even in tight economic times, we expect that they will fund our school’s modernization, which requires funding capital projects.
d. We have waited long enough.

Contact information for the state house: go to http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/ to find your representatives.

4) Contact Governor O’Malley and tell him:
a. Our school is “40X40.” 40 years since it’s last renovation and 40% over capacity.
b. RCF represents the entire county through the immersion program;
c. Even in tight economic times, we expect that he will fund our school’s modernization, which requires funding capital projects.
d. We have waited long enough.
Contact Information for Gov. O'Malley: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/