Governor Ehrlich, Comptroller Schaefer, and Treasurer Kopp, thank you for this opportunity to join with the Baltimore County Board of Education and the other elected officials of Baltimore County in appealing the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Committee on School Construction. Even though Baltimore County has the second oldest inventory of school buildings in the State of Maryland, and more than 12 percent of Maryland's schoolchildren, Inter-Agency Committee staff have recommended awarding our program less than $2.9 million dollars out of our $31 million dollar request. This recommended award is less than 4.8 percent of the $60 million dollars in school construction money that has been recommended thus far for allocation statewide for Fiscal Year 2004.
This appeal comes at a critical time for Baltimore County. We have completed basic renovations in all of our older elementary schools, and have started renovating our middle schools. A large part of this appeal involves the renovation of seven older middle schools: Arbutus, Dumbarton, Middle River, Ridgely, Southwest Academy, Sparrows Point, and Sudbrook Middle Schools. We also want to appeal the recommended deferral of funding for a new Windsor Mill Middle School, which is badly needed to relieve substantial crowding in our west side middle schools.
This renovation program was started five years ago as a collaborative effort between Baltimore County government, the State, and the Board of Education. The effort began with a comprehensive inventory of the basic needs of Baltimore County's schools. Beginning with the oldest elementary schools first, we have proceeded to fund and carry out a $560 million program of school renovations in an orderly and logical manner. Our educational and community leaders, and our parents, have reached a consensus in support of this renovation program. However, without the approval of at least some of the projects on appeal today, Baltimore County's program to renovate our remaining middle and high schools will be significantly delayed.
During the evaluation process for this year's request, questions were raised by IAC staff regarding the scope of the proposed renovations at these seven middle schools. Staff have suggested that these renovation projects should be larger, and should also include enhancements of facilities at these schools. However, the scope of these projects is no different than the scope of the other systemic renovations the State has helped to fund over the last five years. Quite frankly, I do not believe that this issue should be a factor in whether these projects receive state funding.
We agree that enhanced school facilities are desirable, and we have worked with the State to fund a number of important enhancement projects, including expanded science laboratories in all of our high schools and extensive rewiring for computer systems. However, if we are now required to expand the scope of projects at some of these middle schools, we will be forced to delay badly needed systemic renovations at other County schools. Just as you must allocate State dollars so they are used to address the most pressing problems statewide, Superintendent Hairston and I must look at the most pressing priorities among our 167 schools County-wide.
When viewed in that context, fixing the basics first is sound educational policy, as well as sound fiscal policy. These seven proposed middle school renovation projects will make a real difference in the learning environment for the children who attend these schools every day. Basic services such as adequate heat, clean water, working windows and doors, adequate lighting, and functioning lockers should not have to wait until State and County governments can afford to make additional educational enhancements. Increasing the cost and complexity of each project to provide facility enhancements beyond basic renovations is something that we cannot do right now.
I hope that you as a Board will not let that happen and that you will see the wisdom of continuing to fund the comprehensive renovation program we initiated together five years ago.
Our request for planning money for a new Windsor Mill Middle School has been deferred at the staff level. State staff have disagreed with our School Board's findings that we need to add 900 middle school seats to the western part of Baltimore County. Their disagreement flies in the face of clear statistical data that demonstrate the need for these additional seats. Failure to construct these seats will prevent us from relieving crowded conditions in our west side middle schools. We will continue to provide State staff with all possible information and analysis to support our request, and we ask for your support for this important new school.
In conclusion, I respectfully request that the Board approve our request for continued support of our comprehensive renovation program, and provide planning money for a new Windsor Mill Middle School, so we can continue to work in partnership with the State of Maryland to provide excellent educational opportunities for all our children in Baltimore County. Thank you.
Revised January 22, 2003
Courthouse 