1. Navigating the Capital Improvements Program
So your PTA can effectively advocate for your school!
By: Laura Stewart,

2. Destination: CIP Building the Future
New facilities
Additions
Revitalizations/Expansions (Rev/Ex)
PLAR (planned life replacement) spending
Major Projects, like the Play Spaces initiative
Maintenance is Operating Budget, not CIP
Significant Backlog of Projects
Limited Resources
Aging Infrastructure
Over Capacity, adding over 2000 kids a year for 10 years

3. A Year Long Voyage

4. Help Steer the Ship Multiple Opportunities for PTA Input
Written Reports
Testimony at BOE hearings
Testimony at County Council hearings
MCCPTA Events
BOE visits
MCPS official studies
Face to face meetings

5. The Summer Launch Cluster comments due in June Summer area meetings
Meet with your principal to talk about CIP needs
Ask the community
Provide your Cluster Coordinator a report BEFORE the due date
Summer area meetings
Review the Master Plan (July)

6. Fast Autumn Winds (Sept./Oct.)
View or attend BOE meetings
Superintendent's CIP recommendations are released
Attend MCCPTA sponsored meetings
Delegate Meetings
October BOE/MCCPTA BOD event
MCPS/MCCPTA CIP Forum (combined with Delegate Meeting this year) October. 24
Testimony Training Oct. 30th

7. How to Read the Stars
The 6 year CIP is done every 2 years, off years may have course corrections or small changes
New population projections are released
Capital Projects will be Proposed, Deferred, Programmed, Approved, or Recommended. Generally, anything NOT Programmed can be changed in a future CIP

8. Chapter 1 of the released CIP
Overview of the CIP, funding tables, and summaries
Highlights: Summary Table and Funding Sources

9. Chapter 2 The Planning Environment
Population Trends, Housing Trends, Demographic Trends Highlights: MCPS Enrollment Projections

10. Chapter 3 Facility Planning Objectives
Implement Facility Plans that Support the Continuous Improvement of Educational Programs in the School System
Meet Long-term and Interim Space Needs
388 Relocatables
lists all addition projects
Sustaining and Revitalizing Facilities
Provide Schools that Are Environmentally Safe, Secure, Functionally Efficient, and Comfortable
Support Multipurpose Use of Schools
Meet Special Education Program Space Needs

11. Chapter 4 Recommended Actions and Planning Issues By Cluster or Consortium
Cluster planning issues summary
School solutions
Capital projects table
Projected Enrollment and Space Availability
Demographic Characteristics
Program Capacity
Facility Characteristics

12. Chapter 5 and Appendix A-I
Chapter 5: lists all long term projects
Appendix A - B: Enrollment numbers
Appendix C: Land Use, Subdivision, Growth Policy
Appendix D: Cluster and school test (Important!)
Appendix F: Facilities Data and State Rated Capacity
Appendix G - H: Capacity Calculations and Relocatables
Appendix I -J: Revitalization/Expansion (Rev/Ex) Schedule
NEW calculations this year, Key Facility Indicators instead of FACT scores

13. Appendix L-R Appendix L: Schools reopened and improvements
Appendix M: Planned Life-cycle Asset Replacement (PLAR) Projects completed previous summer
Appendix N: Head Start and Pre-K locations
Appendix O : Magnet maps
Appendix P: Special education services descriptions
Appendix Q: Political districts by school and maps
Appendix R: Priority Funding Areas

14. Appendix S-Y, and Calendar
Appendix S-W: Policy Regulations
Long Range Planning, Community Involvement, Modernizations, Student Transfers, Transportation
Appendix X: Former Schools, Reopened Schools, Future Schools
Appendix Y: Cluster Maps
School Contacts and Planning Calendar

15. Weathering the Storm (November)
Public hearings on the superintendent’s recommendations November 2nd and 6th
Clusters are assigned a day and time for testimony
Individuals MAY testify. Look out for the date to sign up, the spots go VERY fast
There will most likely be changes in the Rev/Ex list. Be prepared, watch the August 31st BOE meeting Archived in Board Docs

16. Testimony Tips
Cluster coordinators should contact all school PTAs for input
Kids make great presentations, and they usually get a special spot
A prop or pictures add drama
Be passionate, but not aggressive
Try to incorporate a story, backed up with a few data points Make sure it is accurate and up to date!!
Use MCPS’s own criteria to make your point
Have a coordinated effort
Be sure you have data to back up your assertions, especially when claiming that your school deserves attention over other schools

17. Winter Ports of Call
December 1: BOE sends the CIP to the County Executive
January: County Executive publishes Capital Budget
February (early): County Council hears testimony from Cluster Coordinators
February: Superintendent releases recommendations on boundaries, site selection, and/or planning studies, and any deferred CIP items

18. Sailing Home
March 8: BOE public hearing on boundary, site surveys, planning studies, and deferred CIP items
March 22: BOE Action on FY 2019 CIP
Late May: County Council approves the FY 2019 CIP

19. Tying up Loose Knots Advocate throughout the year
Write your representatives, BOE and County Council
Meet with your Representatives and At Large Reps. Have a meet and greet with your Cluster
Invite BOE or County Council members to school events
Write Thank You notes when you get a positive result.
Don’t give up! Many problems may not get fixed in a year