Montgomery Councilmember Rice, MCPS Superintendent Smith, College President Pollard to host forum on education priorities in Takoma Park on Wednesday, March 15

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 9, 2017

Montgomery Councilmember Craig Rice,

MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith,

College President DeRionne Pollard

to host third in series

of 5 forums on education

On Wed., March 15, at Montgomery College/Takoma Park,

they will explain FY18 budget process and seek

residents’ priorities for MCPS and Community College

 

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 9, 2017—Montgomery County Council Education Committee Chair Craig Rice, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith and Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard will host the third in a series of five public forums on the County’s education programs on Wednesday, March 15, on the Montgomery College / Takoma Park campus. The forums provide information, and seek input, on the programs and budgets of the County’s public school system and its community college. This is the third year County education leaders are conducting a Countywide tour to address the school budget process.

 

The forums will address how budget priorities are established by the Board of Education, the County Executive and the County Council—all of whom work toward crafting the MCPS and Montgomery College annual operating budgets. At the forums, subjects will include what the school system and college are doing to prepare for Fiscal Year 2018.

 

The forums also talk about the opportunities residents will have to influence decisions that will be made as the County works to adopt the FY18 budget. The County Council in May will adopt the budget that will go into effect on July 1.

 

All forums will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The schedule for the remaining forums:

• Wednesday, March 15: Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus (Catherine F. Scott Building, also known as the CM Building, Room 211). 7600 Takoma Ave., Takoma Park.
• Wednesday, March 22: Walter Johnson High School (cafeteria). 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda.
• Wednesday, March 29: Richard Montgomery High School (cafeteria). 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville.

The first two forums were held at Northwest High School in Germantown and Blair High School in Silver Spring. More than 200 people were present for the forum at Blair. A video summary of the forum at Northwest High can be viewed at https://youtu.be/2NTwtBl8k_k .

“These forums will provide an opportunity for residents to have their questions answered about the education budgets at both the State and County level from kindergarten to higher education,” said Councilmember Rice. “We will talk about how budget decisions are made and will work to explain the circumstances concerning the new budget we are addressing for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. We also will discuss the opportunities residents will have to influence budget decisions. And in this early stage of the budget process, we want to hear from residents about their concerns, their priorities and how they fit with the amount of funding available.”

 

For further information about any of the forums, contact Councilmember Rice’s office at 240-777-7955 or email him at:

[email protected] .

 

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Release ID: 17-074
Media Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7939, Delphine Harriston 240-777-7931