ROCKVILLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL STRESS SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDING TO MOCO COUNCIL PRESIDENT CRAIG RICE

School construction was the major focus for Rockville's mayor and council, during a presentation by Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice Monday evening. While Rice said the council made an effort to obtain additional funds from the state, "the end result wasn't what we wanted." The plan was rebuffed by politicians in the Maryland General Assembly during the 2014 session.

"We are ready, willing and able to join with you...to get to Annapolis" to testify for additional funds, Mayor Bridget Newton said.

Councilmember Tom Moore asked Rice for "every consideration" for construction of Richard Montgomery Elementary School No. 5. The cluster's elementary schools are "greatly overcrowded," Moore noted, and the new school is desperately needed.

Rice said, based on his review of Rockville's priorities, that the county council is "trying to adhere to many of the same policy goals," as the city. He also stressed the importance of assisting workforce development for those with special needs, and organizations such as Jubilee and ARC.

Ultimately, the holdup of construction funds for Rockville schools "is a joint problem," Rice said, that can only be resolved by working together with the city and the state.