Funding For A New Brunswick High Building Included In Frederick County’s Executive CIP

Renovations at two elementary school also included.Brunswick High SchoolFrederick, Md (KM) There’s some good news for Brunswick residents. Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced that funding for a new high school has been set aside in the proposed fiscal year 2026 capital budget. “This is long awaited project. And we’re very excited that we will be funding site assessment and pre-design for Brunswick High School in f.y. ’26,.” she said.The capital budget for fiscal year 2026 is part of the County’s six-year Capital Improvements Program.”This is a needed project that the Brunswick community has been advocating for since 2019 when the Board of Education voted to replace the current Brunswick High School,” Fitzwater continues. “It is expected to be a larger building, adding nearly 20,000 more square feet, with space for roughly 1,000 students as approved by the state Interagency Commission on School Construction.”The money for the project comes from a five-cent increase in the property tax rate voted on last year by the County Council. This additional revenue is placed in a Dedicated General Fund Reserve and is only used to  renovate or replace aging school buildings. “The new Dedicated General Fund Reserve for aging schools is being used to advance four school projects all over the county, and it’s just its first year if implementation, “Fitzwater says. “I believe taxpayers can be proud that their investment in schools will address some of our most needed aging school projects all around the county beginning in this fiscal year.”Another school project to be paid for through the Dedicated General Fund Reserve is renovation work at Twin Ridge Elementary School. “Right size the building, and address  a minimum of five building systems.. It’s extending the useful life of the building for many years,” says Fitzwater. “The majority of the Twin Ridge project will be completed during the next two summers without disrupting student learning.”She says another school receiving some attention in the FY ’26 capital budget is Hillcrest Elementary School. “The Hillcrest limited renovation project will not only update systems in one of our older schools, but incorporate a new classroom portable pod purchased with City of Frederick School Mitigation Fee revenue. It will put that project into the design of the permanent building.”This pod will also have an advantage for students and staff. “That will ensure the entry into the new pod space will be from inside Hillcrest Elementary School, ensuring a much more safe and secure learning space for students, “says Fitzwater.Money from this Dedicated Fund Reserve will also be used to begin construction on a new elementary school in the eastern part of the county. It’s expected to relieve overcrowding at Oakdale Elementary School which is operating about  170 percent of state rated capacity. It doesn’t have a formal name yet,  but  Right now it’s known as Elementary School 41.By Kevin McManus