School Construction Projects

School Construction Projects

Montgomery County Board of Education

May 12, 2020

Agenda

End of Year Work

• Coordinated Plan to Transition Schools

Construction Project Update

• Projects Currently Under Construction

• Summer Recess Infrastructure Projects

• Projects in Design

State and Local Funding Update

• County Council Capital Improvements Program

• State of Maryland Construction Funding

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End of Year Work

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Close out current year; prepare for next year

• May 6, 2020, announcement for school buildings to remain closed

• Many end of year requirements: students and staff retrieve and return belongings and materials; pack and secure classrooms; business operations

• Facilities staff and area associates developing coordinated and sequenced plan

• Priority will be safety for all: staff, students, families• Best practices around materials and social distancing

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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Industry Context

• Supply Chain Disruptions (Shipping and Manufacturing Delays)

• Workforce Availability• Jobsite Impacts due to Safety Provisions• Varying Restrictions of States and Municipalities• Availability of Agency Inspections and Permits• Economic Fears and Consumer Confidence

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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MCPS Project Schedules

• New School Facilitieso Five new buildings scheduled to open August 2020

o Seneca Valley High Schoolo Tilden Middle School / Rock Terrace Schoolo Luxmanor Elementary Schoolo Potomac Elementary Schoolo Maryvale Elementary School / Carl Sandburg

Learning Center

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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MCPS Project Schedules

• New School Facilitieso Four new additions scheduled to open August 2020.

o Pine Crest and Montgomery Knolls elementary schools

o Thomas W. Pyle and Takoma Park middle schools• Boundary Reassignment

o Three projects are associated with boundary changes scheduled to begin implementation in the 2020-2021 school year.

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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Occupancy Considerations

• Inspection Reviews and Approvals• Furniture and Equipment Deliveries• Staff Packing and Move Process• Building Orientation Process for Staff and Students• Unknown Future Social Distancing Guidelines

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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Adjustments may be necessary to observe social distancing requirements in place.• Review options to use all available facilities• Possible phased occupancy• Re-opening new facilities may look different than

typical experience• Will look to implement best practices and public

health guidance

Contingency Planning

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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Summer Recess Infrastructure Projects

• Security Vestibules• HVAC and Roof Replacements• Restroom Renovations• Relocatable Classroom Placements• ADA Improvements• Program Space Build-out (Special Education, Science,

Technology, etc.)

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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Summer Recess Infrastructure Projects

• Some projects will have to be deferred due to timeline available and industry conditions.

• Priorities are projects needed for building safety and operations, and needed to re-open school.

• Will align priorities with system program needs and summer learning priorities.

• Will work to accomplish as many projects as possible within constraints.

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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Projects in Design

• Work continues, however, we are developing contingency plans for anticipated delays.

• Delay Potential:o Processes rely heavily on stakeholder engagement and state

and local agency approval processeso Public forms of approval include Interagency Commission on

School Construction (IAC), M-NCPPC Mandatory Referral, and Maryland Department of the Environment

o Economic Impacts to Project Fundingo Industry Participation

COVID-19 Impacts on Construction

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Key word: Flexibility

• Even with challenges, finding successes and solutions.

• Work with school and neighborhood communities, stakeholders, to communicate status and expectations.

• Will continue to monitor conditions and bring any needed adjustments forward to reflect project priorities and timelines.

Discussion

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Capital Budget Funding Update• Local Funding

• Board’s requested FY 2021–2026 CIP totaled $1.8 billion for the six-year period.

• The county executive’s recommendation was $100 million less than the Board’s request.

• Following Council's request, the Board provided a list of non-recommended reductions to align with the county executive’s recommendation.

• Non-recommended reductions included:

o One-year delay for the following high school projects: Crown (new), Northwood (addition/facility upgrade), Charles Woodward (re-opening), and Col. Zadok Magruder (Major Capital Project)

o One-year delay for the following elementary school projects: Clarksburg ES #9, DuFief (addition/facility upgrade), and William Tyler Page addition

o Two-year delay for the Bethesda ES addition

o Removal of expenditures for the Westbrook ES addition, the Early Childhood Center at Watkins Mill HS, and the shell build out for Maryvale ES/Carl Sandburg Learning Center project

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Capital Budget Funding Update• On May 4, 2020, the Council held a worksession on the MCPS CIP and

unanimously supported to restore some of the projects included on the non-recommended reductions list, pending Council reconciliation.

• Projects were grouped into two tiers:

o Tier 1: Crown (new), Northwood (addition/facility upgrade) and Charles Woodward (re-opening) high schools

o Tier 2: Bethesda ES addition, Clarksburg ES #9, Col. Zadok Magruder HS (Major Capital Project), and Watkins Mill HS Early Childhood Center

• With the substantial shortfall between the Board’s request and the county executive’s recommendation, significant resources would need to be allocated to the MCPS CIP to restore the projects noted above.

• Council reconciliation tentatively is scheduled for May 14, 2020.

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Capital Budget Funding

• State Funding

o The county executive‘s CIP recommendation includes an assumption of $58.7 million in state aid for each of the six years.

o For FY2021, anticipated state aid will be $54.1 million, a shortfall of $4.6 million.

o The FY 2021 anticipated state funding includes the annual allocation, along with funding from the Capital Grant Program for Local School Systems with Significant Enrollment Growth or Relocatable Classrooms.

o The shortfall in state funding for FY2021 will be reviewed during the Council’s reconciliation process.

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Capital Budget Funding

• State Funding

oNew state aid for school construction is anticipated through

the Learn to Build Act of 2020 approved by the Maryland

General Assembly.

o Based on the approved legislation, an additional $420 million

over the next 10 years would be available for school construction

projects.

oDue to the current health crisis, the timing and funding level from

this legislation is uncertain.

o The County Council, however, will have to assume a funding level

as part of the approved CIP.

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Discussion

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