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Without State Money Infusion, School Addition Projects Likely To Be Delayed

By WTOP Staff

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High SchoolA slew of MCPS school addition projects will likely be delayed in the county’s next capital budget, something county officials are attributing to the failure of a school construction funding bill this year in Annapolis.

There is a roughly $230 million gap in the school system’s recommended capital budget for the next six years and what the county can pay for, according to County Council staff.

To account for the shortfall, MCPS prepared an “Affordability Scenario” that would mean one-year delays for projects with design set to start next fiscal year, including additions at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Kensington-Parkwood Elementary School and North Bethesda Middle School.

It would also mean project designs set to start in 2015 or beyond would be moved out of the six-year capital improvements program. That would affect four elementary school addition projects, including Ashburton Elementary School in North Bethesda.

“We ended up short of where we wanted to be but I think the message was heard loud and clear and I think that is a great starting point,” said Councilmember Craig Rice of the state delegation’s efforts at a state school construction bill. “The fact of the matter is we’re still not where we need to be and therefore we have to make some adjustments and changes.”

The bill lawmakers pursued in Annapolis would have provided up to $20 million in state construction funding a year to the “big three” counties — Montgomery, Prince George’s and Baltimore. But it failed to gain traction with lawmakers from around the state, despite the county’s overcrowding concerns and growing student population.

In March, County Council staff asked MCPS for ideas about how to adjust the budget in the case that the legislation didn’t pass.

“We figured out a way in which we can cause as little disruption as possible to our school construction schedule,” Rice said at a joint Public Safety and Education Committee hearing on Monday. “It is my expectation that whoever comes in as governor next year will address this problem.”

The Council Committee also agreed to cut funding for the school system’s HVAC/Electrical Replacement project in half (from $49.8 million to roughly $24 million) in fiscal years 2015-2018.

There would be no change for projects already under construction, including additions at Bethesda Elementary, North Chevy Chase Elementary and Rosemary Hills Elementary. There would also be no schedule changes for project already in design, including construction of a second middle school for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster.

The County Executive’s office will send over an alternative plan that would allow for some mitigation to the reductions recommended by the Council committee.

The B-CC High School addition was one of two new projects added to MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr’s recommended capital budget in October. It had been scheduled to be ready for the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

MCPS projects B-CC will surpass 2,000 students by the 2016-2017 school year. The existing school’s capacity is 1,692 students, with enrollment of 1,872.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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