By Adam Pagnucco.
Due to both its hulking size and its controversial proposals (like using Crown HS as a holding school and closing Silver Spring International MS), Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s capital budget has aroused more community interest than any MCPS construction plan in years. That caused Board of Education Member Rita Montoya to propose two amendments now spreading through MCPS’s stakeholder community, including one that would shift money from two school replacement projects to HVAC replacements. Now a PTA representing one of those schools – Cold Spring ES in Potomac – is pushing back. The PTA’s message to Montoya and her colleagues is this: our school is in poor condition and must be replaced now.
Following is the statement from Cold Spring PTA MCCPTA Representative Adam Goldberg.
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For years, the Cold Spring Elementary School community has raised serious concerns that ours is the only remaining open-concept elementary school in Montgomery County. It was an experiment from the 1970’s that has long been abandoned for obvious reasons. Our outdated building means that most of our students learn in classrooms without full walls, doors, or separation from other classes.
This isn’t just an inconvenience. It creates noise and distraction that challenges every child, especially those with sensory or focus issues. More concerning, during safety drills, students and staff must move through open spaces and take shelter in cramped supply closets. We shudder to think what might happen in a real emergency.
This is not about privilege. It is about equity. Our children deserve the same safe, secure, and distraction-free learning environment that every other elementary school in the county provides.
That’s why we were encouraged by the County’s new data-driven Facility Condition Index (FCI), which offers a fair and objective way to measure school conditions. Cold Spring ranked among the poorest elementary schools in the county under the FCI.
We are deeply grateful to Superintendent Taylor and the Board of Education for recognizing Cold Spring’s urgent needs, and to Dr. Taylor for including our school in the recommended FY 2027–2032 Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
Last month, 330 Cold Spring families signed a public letter supporting that recommendation, and six members of our community testified at the Board of Education hearing.
Our ask to every board member is simple: Oppose Rita Montoya’s misguided amendment and approve the recommended CIP tonight with the Cold Spring Elementary capital project included.
Some question whether our enrollment justifies a new CIP investment. For years MCPS projections have underestimated Cold Spring’s actual growth. Our enrollment has actually increased by 11% over the past six years – and is now at 369 students.
Cold Spring also plays a unique role as a Center for Enriched Studies hub, offering instruction for gifted 4th and 5th graders throughout the Wootton and Churchill clusters. Enrollment is capped at about 108 students annually. We encourage MCPS to expand the Centers program to include more students and help Cold Spring reach full capacity.
As we look ahead to a long-overdue new facility, we’re also focused on immediate steps to keep our children safe. We’ve applied to participate in the County’s Security Assistant Pilot Program, and we urge MCPS to explore temporary, cost-effective solutions — like installing modular walls or doors.
Despite our building’s age and limitations, our children thrive because of our teachers’ dedication and our community’s spirit. Imagine what they could achieve with a more modern and secure facility.
The CIP represents more than a construction project — it’s an investment in safety for our kids and teachers. Board of Education members – we call on you to help us build a stronger future for Cold Spring Elementary together by taking an important first step with tonight’s vote.
The Cold Spring Elementary School Parent Teacher Association