Community Corner

Week Ahead: New Developments in Rock Terrace Probe, Leggett Unveils Construction Budget, More

5 things to have on your radar this week in Rockville and Gaithersburg.

Rock Terrace Investigation: Starr Plan Would Pay More Than 100 Students

Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr proposes to pay students who participated in work-study programs at Rock Terrace School, whose handling of work-study pay is the target of an investigation by MCPS and the state’s attorney’s office.

Starr is expected to give an update to the Montgomery County Board of Education on Tuesday, during the board’s regular meeting
>>> Read Starr’s memo to school board members here

Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The school board requested the update after an MCPS investigation found poor oversight and management of students’ work-study funds. Rock Terrace School serves students with physical and developmental disabilities. 

The Gazette, which has published thorough accounts of the investigation, reported Friday that Starr’s plan would pay more than 100 students who participated in the program, at a total pay-out of between $30,000 and $35,000. 
>>> See: ‘Starr proposes plan to pay Rock Terrace students’ at Gazette.net

Find out what's happening in Gaithersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Montgomery County Board of Education meets at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The public portion of the meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.; Starr’s presentation is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. The full agenda is available online.

 

On the Agenda: Rockville City Council

The Mayor and Council are expected to hear an update from Rockville Economic Development Inc. City staff is also expected to unveil Engage Rockville, an online tool intended to boost civic engagement.

The Rockville City Council meets 7:30 p.m. Monday at Rockville City Hall. The meetings are televised live on Rockville 11 and are live-streamed from the city’s website.  View the agenda, here.

 

On the Agenda: Gaithersburg City Council Work Session

Agenda items for Gaithersburg City Council work Session includes an annual report from the city’s Economic and Business Development Committee, whose presentation will address the city’s goal of increasing its tax base and challenges posed by a soft market for office space, the Frederick Avenue corridor, and the jobs-to-housing ratio. There will also be a report from the city’s Olde Town Advisory Sub-Committee.

The Gaithersburg City Council work session is 7 p.m. Monday at Gaitheresburg City Hall. View the agenda, here.

 

Leggett Unveils Proposed Capital Budget

On Wednesday, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will officially unveil his proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2015. Leggett is expected to give the announcement at 10:30 a.m. in the lobby of the County Executive Office Building in Rockville.

At a recent budget forum in Germantown, the County Executive reportedly said not to expect huge increases in the county budget, The Gazette reports.

Budget forums are scheduled for:

  •  7 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 13, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda.
  •  7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring.
  •  7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring.
  •  7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring.  

ICYMI: Hundreds Pack Homeless Shelters, Will Concern End after Freeze?
This weekend’s spring-like temperatures could happily make it easy to forget the bitter cold the polar vortex brought last week. But advocates in Montgomery County hope it won’t be a reason to forget about the homeless. Read about the county’s advocacy efforts at Rockville Patch.


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