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Leggett: Montgomery County Will Find Money For New Schools

By: Matt Bush // August 28, 2012
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It's the second day of classes in Montgomery County, but Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is already looking ahead to next year when it comes to further school improvements that need to be made. 

Flora Singer Elementary in Silver Spring opened its doors for the first time yesterday, but many  more new and renovated school buildings are needed in a school system that has seen an enrollment increase of more than 10,000 students in the past decade. 

It will cost a lot of money to keep up with that rising enrollment. Singer Elementary cost almost $23 million to build, and the General Assembly is requiring Montgomery County to spend more money on aspects of education not connected to school construction. 

But county executive Isiah Leggett says when new school buildings or renovations are needed, they will be done.

"The challenge will not be in education. It may well be in other areas that we have to cut back," Leggett says. "We are going to make sure that we have the teachers that are going to be paid properly, we will make sure we have the staff, the buildings, and all the equipment needed for those buildings to ensure that we are properly educating our kids."

Public safety will also not be cut, Leggett added, which leaves many programs on the table. The executive would not offer further specifics. 

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