Superintendent's Corner

Welcome to the start of the 2023-2024 school year. I hope this summer was enjoyable and you were afforded ample opportunities to spend quality time with loved ones. As we embark on a new school year, we are excited about all the new possibilities and educational opportunities that await our students. I have always loved the excitement at the start of a new school year, and I am especially eager to begin my first full school year as Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public Schools. This new school year brings many things to celebrate as our students return to school.

Most recently, we opened bids for our renovation project occurring at Christiansburg High School. I was happy to see that several proposals came in at the anticipated budget for this project. We are currently negotiating with the lowest bidder to finalize the costs so that we can begin construction as soon as possible. I cannot wait to see this project as it unfolds, and we will keep you updated on the progress. In addition, we have several ongoing capital projects, including new roofs at Christiansburg Elementary School, Montgomery Central, and Belview Elementary School. We are proud of the commitment of our School Board to continually ensure that we have appropriate learning environments for our students and staff.

We announced last week that we were able to secure free lunch and free breakfast for all students at six schools through a state-sponsored Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) from the Virginia Department of Education. Falling Branch Elementary School, Montgomery Central, Prices Fork Elementary School, Eastern Montgomery High School, Eastern Montgomery Elementary School, and Shawsville Middle School will all benefit from this program. We encourage all families in these schools to take advantage of this program and have their child(ren) participate daily in the free lunch and breakfast provided. We will continue to work with our food services provider, The Nutrition Group, to offer high-caliber meals to all our students.

Two of our Christiansburg schools will open with new principals in August. Shane Gyunn was appointed as the new principal of Christiansburg High School. He has a long history at CHS, and his passion for our students and this community are essential attributes that will serve him well in his new leadership position. Danny Knott will take the helm at Christiansburg Middle School as this school year begins, and we know his extensive leadership experience and his commitment to MCPS will be a tremendous asset to the children and staff at CMS.

We also have a few new principals in our Blacksburg schools. Dr. Robert Johnson is the new principal of Blacksburg Middle School and brings a wealth of experience as a district-level and building-level administrator to his new leadership role. Marcia Settle returns to a principal leadership position as the principal at Harding Avenue Elementary School. Her extensive leadership experience in various county settings prepared her well for this role.

We have secured additional supportive services to address some of our student’s social and emotional needs. New River Valley Community Services will help us in this area, expanding their reach in our buildings. Clinicians will be spread throughout the county, and building-level needs will determine clinician placements. If you have any questions or feel your child would benefit from this type of service and support, please contact your building principal directly.

We look forward to a great year and growing in our partnership to best service the children and families of Montgomery County.

Sincerely,

Bernard F. Bragen, Jr.

Email: berniebragen@mcps.org
Website: www.mcps.org
Location: 750 Imperial Street, Christiansburg, VA, USA
Phone: (540)382-5100
Facebook: Facebook.com/mcps.info
Twitter: @MCPSSUPT