ANNAPOLIS — Representatives from 13 districts pleaded Wednesday for nearly $160 million in additional funds for school construction, but the state has only $35.6 million available to them.
Flanked by state delegates and county commissioners, school district officials – some bearing flowers – urged the Board of Public Works to reconsider funding recommendations by the Interagency Committee on School Construction, which oversees Maryland’s School Construction Program.
Citing overcrowding in schools and decaying buildings, school officials told the three board members that the extra money is needed to build new schools and renovate those with leaky roofs and no air conditioning.
Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend filled in as a board member for honeymooning Gov. Parris N. Glendening. The other members are Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and outgoing Treasurer Richard N. Dixon, who was attending his last meeting after announcing his retirement for health reasons.
At stake is $35.6 million that has yet to be appropriated from the $146 million available for school construction in 2003.
To get a portion of that funding, schools submit capital improvement programs by Dec. 7 of each year. The interagency committee then meets with school boards before making recommendations to the Board of Public Works.
Counties may appeal the recommendations to the board, which has the final say before allocations are presented to the General Assembly.
Schools are notified in May of the amounts they were awarded.
Officials in Prince George’s County asked for nearly $50 million for ongoing projects to build 26 schools and renovate others in the state’s largest school district. The committee, however, recommended $12 million.
“It’s clear the future health of Prince George’s County depends on the school system,” said Peter Shapiro, County Council chairman. “This is our priority.”
County Executive Wayne K. Curry was joined by school Superintendent Iris T. Metts and Delegate Rushern Baker and Sen. Paul Pinsky, both Prince George’s Democrats, in pleading for an additional $37.5 million.
The county can put up $60 million if the state foots $50 million, Curry said.
Curry also requested that the state approve a plan to allow the county to sell property slated for school construction to local businesses in exchange for leasing options. The plan is a way to build schools quicker and cut down costs, Baker said.
Townsend had to repeatedly remind school and county officials that the board has the tough task of doling out just $36 million among school districts in 13 jurisdictions.
Frederick County representatives also asked for an expensive grant, $26.7 million additional to build two schools, on top of its recommended $7.5 million.
Overcrowding is a great concern in Frederick County, with Middletown schools at 107 percent capacity, said Delegate Louise Snodgrass, R-Frederick.
Moreover, 23 of 53 Frederick County schools are overcrowded and enrollment continues to grow, said Daryl Boffman, a Frederick County Board of Education member. The county uses 136 portable classrooms to deal with the overcrowding, he said.
“The state needs to take an active part with us to provide classroom space we sorely need,” Boffman said.
In Calvert County, schools cannot keep up with the rapidly growing subdivisions that are bringing in more families – the population has increased 40 percent in the last 10 years, officials said.
The county’s three high schools were built to accommodate 1,200 students apiece, but they currently hold 4,100 students, said County Commissioner Robert Swann. The county needs at least $11.5 million to build a new high school and renovate its career center, Swann said.
With $9.7 million already in hand for school construction, Baltimore officials said they also need $16.5 million to build a new elementary/middle school and renovate the Booker T. Washington Middle School.
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