Celebrate Black History Month

During Black History Month, the Board of Education is proud to open this month of reflection by honoring the power, resilience, and enduring legacy of Black history in Montgomery County.

We begin where learning, leadership, and community first came together at Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church in Potomac. Built by freed slaves and their descendants and opened in 1924, this space became a foundation for education, support, and opportunity long before a formal school existed.

Watch Echoes of the Ancestors as we reflect on the roots that shaped generations and continue to guide our future.

Grace Rivera-Oven Elected President of Montgomery County Board of Education; Brenda Wolff Named Vice President

Grace Rivera-Oven was elected president of the Montgomery County Board of Education and Brenda Wolff was named vice president at the beginning of the board’s November 20 business meeting.

Rivera-Oven, who represents District 1 and was elected to the board in 2022, will begin her first term as president in December. 1. She previously served as chair of the Committee on Special Populations and is the founder and CEO of the Upcounty Hub, a Germantown-based nonprofit addressing food insecurity and providing social services to more than 1,400 families weekly. Rivera-Oven said her focus will remain on student well-being and equity.

Wolff, representing District 5, has served on the board since 2018 and previously held two terms as president and one term as vice president. She spent 27 years with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and has held leadership roles in several national education programs.

Board leaders serve one-year terms. The president chairs meetings, signs approved contracts and documents, represents the board in communications, and performs other duties as needed.

Board Approves FY 2027 Capital Budget and Six-Year CIP

The Board of Education approved the superintendent’s Recommended FY 2027 Capital Budget and the FY 2027–2032 Capital Improvements Program, a $2.78 billion plan that increases investment in aging facilities, provides relief from overcrowding, and supports essential systemwide upgrades. The plan maintains timelines for major ongoing projects and advances key modernizations and replacements across the county, including Damascus HS, Eastern MS, Sligo MS and several elementary schools.

Because the superintendent’s recommendation includes proposed changes to Silver Spring International Middle School (SSIMS) and Sligo Creek Elementary School, the Board added an amendment to clarify that no decision has been made to close or convert any school. The amendment states that all related projects cannot move forward unless and until the Board formally considers and votes on a closure proposal, following the full public process required by Board policy and state regulations. This ensures that families will have clear information and meaningful opportunities to provide input before any decision is made.

Next Steps

• The approved CIP now goes to the County Executive and County Council for review during the county’s capital budget process.

• Boundary studies and any related CIP adjustments—including those involving SSIMS and Sligo Creek ES—will return to the Board for review and action in February and March 2026.

• Any potential school closure will require full public notification, a hearing, and a final Board vote before a decision is made.

The Montgomery County Board of Education to Hold Board Meeting February 5, 2026

The Montgomery County Board of Education will hold a Board meeting on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 15 W Gude Drive, Rockville. Details, including the meeting agenda, are available on our website.

The meeting will be cablecast live on Comcast Channel 34 (HD 1071), Verizon Channel 36, RCN Channel 89 and the MCPS website.