Interim Superintendent Larry Bowers announced on Wednesday a $1.72 billion construction plan that would create over 12,000 new seats in classrooms across the county, including up to 19 new classrooms at Whitman, in order to accommodate the increasing student population. 

Whitman is now on the list of schools to be allocated funding in 2020, when the renovations are scheduled to begin.

“We are in the pipeline for improvement, but we have not been given any funds yet,” principal Alan Goodwin said. “In the history of MCPS, some schools have been disappointed when suddenly construction is put off a year because of lack of funds. We could get all the way to 2020 and then have to wait until 2021.”

The plan for the expansion is to build on the existing Whittier Woods structure with 19 new classrooms in an addition up to three levels tall, social studies teacher Courtney Osborne said in an email to staff.

Until then, current trends of overcrowding and increasing class sizes are only expected to continue.

“We will be growing by at least 60 students in 2016-2017 due to a large incoming freshman class and a smaller graduating senior class this year” Osborne said. “The county is also expected to raise its caps on classes.”

In the meantime, the administration plans to use portables to cope with current overcrowding, starting with four portables on the basketball courts next school year.

“We will—unfortunately—lose the use of the our outdoor basketball court,” Goodwin said. “The only other place we could put them is in the parking lot, which we are trying to avoid.”

Pyle is also slated for renovations, along with two other middle schools and six elementary schools.

Despite the expense, MCPS sees construction as a priority.

“While I recognize that Montgomery County continues to struggle with revenue shortfalls, I must advocate for the facilities we need to provide our students and staff with the learning environments they deserve,” Bowers said in a press release.