Millions doled out for school projects

County receives majority of funds it had requested

Friday, May 8, 2009

By ALAN BRODY

Staff writer

County projects

Charles County will receive more than 85 percent of its school construction funding request for fiscal 2010. The Board of Public Works on Wednesday authorized the final chunk of its $267 million allocation, which included an extra $2.2 million for two renovation projects in Charles. In total, the county school system will receive $8.9 million out of the $10.3 million it sought. The BPW had already signed off on money for the new Mary B. Neal Elementary School and a kindergarten/prekindergarten addition at Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School. The money approved on Wednesday will fund boiler renovations at Arthur Middleton Elementary School and John Hanson Middle School.

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ANNAPOLIS — The state Board of Public Works on Wednesday authorized the final chunk of $267 million in fiscal 2010 spending for renovating aging schools and building new ones after hearing an appeal by one of its members to fast-track new construction that would replace dilapidated educational facilities.

The $71.7 million approved on Wednesday includes additional money for projects in 19 jurisdictions, ranging from $204 for a high school roof refurbishment in Olney to $7 million for a new high school in Salisbury.

Although school construction needs still far outpace the supply of available dollars, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) said his administration has invested a record amount of more than $1 billion in school infrastructure in three years.

But Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot said that while the governor should be applauded for such a commitment to educational spending in tight budget times, some students are being educated in deplorable school buildings. He pointed to two schools in Prince George's County, Bowie and Suitland high schools, that are, respectively, severely overcrowded and falling apart.

"I just don't think that young men and women and faculty should have to [learn and] teach in conditions like that," he said about his recent tour of Suitland High.

Franchot (D) said the school's principal told him the $3.1 million allocated to replace the roof is essentially worthless given the building's decaying condition.

"It's like 20 pounds of potatoes trying to go into a five-pound sack," said Franchot. "I hope that repairing the roof, as important as it is, will not get in the way of a new facility."

Suitland is not slated for a major renovation until 2014, said David Lever, executive director of the Interagency Committee on School Construction

O'Malley (D) agreed that there are many needs, but said the investment in education is paying off, as evidenced by improved performance at schools in Baltimore city, where he was formerly mayor. He also said that he is encouraging county leaders to leverage federal stimulus money for school maintenance projects to ease the backlog of state requests.

This year, the state's 24 school systems submitted $766 million in funding requests, nearly three times the available pot of money.

Montgomery County, the largest recipient of state aid, will get $28.4 million, slightly more than Prince George's and Baltimore counties.

abrody@somdnews.com

Requested funding BPW Approved

Mary B. Neal Elementary School $4,398,000 $4,398,000 (partial funds)

Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School, $2,344,000 $2,344,000 (entire project funds)

Arthur Middleton Elementary School, $1,556,000 $1,556,000 (entire project funds)

John Hanson Middle School, $2,036,000 $600,000 (partial funds)

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