For students at Wheaton and Thomas Edison High Schools, this past month had spelled great anticipation. After approval from the Board just as the school year unfolded, the two high schools will soon receive campus modernizations. Currently residing in two of oldest MCPS buildings Wheaton and Edison had long awaited this facility modernization.
On September 11th, 2012, the MCPS Board of Education appropriated $120 million in funding to construct two brand new, state-of-the-art facilities for Wheaton and Edison. The construction of the new Wheaton and Thomas Edison High School buildings is projected to be completed in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
In addition, the Board of Education seeks to renovate the educational programs offered at these schools. Particularly, the Board plans on incorporating a financial literacy curriculum.
“As we plan for new facilities, we should also be designing an educational program that will serve the needs of the students at Wheaton and Edison as well as prepare them for successes in college and workplace,” says Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr at the September 11th Board of Education meeting.
Dr. Starr hopes to foster a new project-based learning program at Wheaton High School and build upon existing career programs at Thomas Edison. Dr. Starr’s vision is to create 21st century educational programs that will act as models for the nation.
In 2009, the Wheaton-Edison community began its effort to push for school modernization. To make its visions a reality, the Wheaton PTSA began meeting with community organizations, setting up roundtable sessions, and testifying in front of both the County Council and the Board of Education.
In a recent interview, Mr. George Gadbois, former Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations Wheaton cluster coordinator, stressed the importance of advocacy, stating that “it’s important to make sure [your] voice [is] heard to the County Council and the Board of Education.”
Undoubtedly, the Wheaton and Edison community will be pleased to hear that their hard work did not end up in vain.
