Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you here today, and thank our county council members and our state senators and delegates for joining us as well. We are here today to celebrate an important legislative victory, successful collaboration between county government and state representatives, and most importantly a day of promise for the children and families of Baltimore County.
As Baltimore County and its citizens work together to continue our renaissance and build a future of security and opportunity, there is no resource more important than our schools, and no tool more important to our children than a good education. Working with Superintendent Dr. Joe Hairston and the school board, we have created and implemented programs to raise student achievement, created a Transitional School to smooth the way for children in state group homes, and expanded all-day kindergarten.
Our schools have developed innovative programs to study the environment and programs like Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) are helping more county students excel and pursue higher education. For third, fifth and eighth graders, state assessment scores in reading and math have risen between 9% and 18%. A recent study by the Schott Foundation for Public Education shows that our almost eighty percent graduation rate for African American males leads the nation, and is what one researcher called “the benchmark for the whole country.”
Baltimore County students go to good schools, and they are taught by fine teachers. But we know there is another important component in helping children learn, the quality of the buildings themselves. Many of the schools in Baltimore County are old, older than the teachers who teach in them and even some of the principals who guide them. The school system does a heroic job of maintaining these old buildings, but Baltimore County’s Comprehensive Renovation Program has been vital in our effort to provide every student with a safe, comfortable classroom conducive to learning.
When a task force headed by State Treasurer Nancy Kopp examined the need for school renovation and construction funding, it reported that Maryland needed nearly four billion dollars in facility improvements.
This year in Annapolis, the hard work of our delegates and senators has given us an opportunity to make significant progress in our school renovation and construction program. Through their efforts, helped by Senator Ed Kasemeyer and Delegate Adrienne Jones, we were able to secure thirty-five million dollars in state funding for school renovation and construction. Baltimore County’s contribution will add more than three times as much, just over $125 million. Forty-six percent of Baltimore County’s Capital budget will go toward building better schools.
This one-hundred and sixty million dollar commitment to school renovation and construction is unprecedented, and it will allow us to complete much-needed renovations at Holabird, Loch Raven, Woodlawn, Deep Creek, Perry Hall, Old Court, Cockeysville, General John Stricker, Pikesville, Lansdowne, Deer Park, Pine Grove, Hereford, and yes Catonsville middle schools, completing our middle school renovation program. Because we were able to secure this state funding this year, and combined it with our significant county commitment of funds, the renovation of our high schools will begin with the 2008 budget cycle.
In Baltimore County we are working hard to ensure that young families will always choose our communities to put down roots and raise children. We want forward-thinking companies to choose Baltimore County and its educated, well-trained work force when they are looking for a place to bring major operations and the family-supporting jobs that come with them. Our schools are vital to that effort, and I am committed to giving our school system the resources it needs to build better schools
There was another very important accomplishment that came out of the General Assembly this year. It is a testament to the strength of our communities that so many teams and leagues need time on our recreation fields. It means that our young people are getting experiences in teamwork, dedication, and physical fitness that come from participating in athletic programs. And it means that people in our neighborhoods truly see the place they live as a community.
Unfortunately, it also means that our fields can’t always be properly rested, and eventually it will mean a lower-quality playing surface. That’s not good for our recreation programs and it is not good for our high schools that use those same fields. Bob Barrett our Director of Recreation and Parks has come up with a solution of synthetic safety turf. The turf is more durable, and it is safer for athletes because the surface is never irregular, never slippery and never muddy.
Again, thanks in large part to our delegation, Baltimore County secured 400,000 dollars in state funds, which will be added to the $2 million of county funds to fund a pilot program to install synthetic safety turf right here at Catonsville High School, as well as at Seminary Park. These fields will be real assets and will allow for better scheduling, easier maintenance, and facilities for our young athletes in Catonsville and Lutherville/Timonium.
This year, truly great things were accomplished for the people of Baltimore County by the hard work and collaboration of County Government and our Annapolis delegation. I thank our entire delegation and our county council for their shared commitment to the renaissance of Baltimore County. Thank you.
Courthouse 