Elementary school student enrollment growth continues in the Gaithersburg Cluster and, therefore, several schools exceed their program capacities-Gaithersburg, Rosemont, Strawberry Knoll, Summit Hall, and Washington Grove elementary schools. In April 2017, the Board of Education approved the construction of an addition at Gaithersburg Elementary School. A feasibility study was conducted for the addition at Gaithersburg Elementary School and revealed a number of challenges. Based on those challenges, as well as the absence of a solution in the approved CIP to address the overutilization at Rosemont and Strawberry Knoll elementary schools, the Board of Education, on August 31, 2017, approved that a Site Selection Advisory Committee convene to evaluate potential elementary school sites in the Gaithersburg Cluster. On February 26, 2018, the superintendent of school supported the Site Selection Advisory Committee recommendation and recommended the City of Gaithersburg Kelley Park site as the location for the new Gaithersburg Cluster Elementary School. On March 22, 2018, the Board of Education approved the superintendent of schools recommendation. It is likely that funding for this project will be adjusted next fall as part of the FY 2021-2026 CIP process. An FY 2019 appropriation was approved to begin the planning for this new school. Funding requested in the FY 2021-2026 CIP reflects the expenditures needed for this new elementary school. An FY 2021 appropriation was approved for construction funds. Due to a shortfall of expenditures for this project, an FY 2021 Capital Budget unexpended project balance transfer and amendment to the FY2021-2026 CIP was approved. The surplus funds were identified from Current Revitalizations/Expansions projects and transferred to the Local Unliquidated Surplus Account. An FY 2022 appropriation was approved to complete this project. This new school is scheduled to be completed August 2022.

Transfer in GO Bonds from Maryvale ES Current Rev/Ex for $846,505, Potomac ES Current Rev/Ex for $362,021, Tilden MS Current Rev/Ex for $1,550,416 and Luxmanor ES Current Rev/Ex for $423,284. FY24 transfer in for $991,000 in GO Bonds and $9,000 in School Impact Taxes from Ashburton ES Add (P651514), Clarksburg Cluster ES (P651713), Dufief ES/Add Facility Upgrade (P651903), Noth Bethesda MS Add (P651503), and Current Rev/Ex (P926575).

MCPS asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.