County Executive John G. Gary has given his unqualified support to the school board's proposed $35 million computer network, pledging to include the money for the first major phase of the plan in his next budget.
The Advanced School Automation Project (ASAP) is an intricate computer network that would be installed over the next five years, with at least one 32-terminal laboratory in each county school and additional specialized computer labs in the upper grades.
All of the computers will be linked and will be capable of linking to other computer networks such as the Internet.
"It's got a huge price tag on it . . . but that's not a reason not to do it. We still have to do it," Mr. Gary said. "We think it's a vital part of making the school system work."
Mr. Gary said the purchase and installation of the computer system will be one of his top priorities during his first term. "I think in any administration there will be sacred cows, and this will be one of them," he said.
Mr. Gary noted that the appropriation for the project, which has yet to be submitted, could still be cut by the County Council during its May budget deliberations but that "it will not be cut by me."
Mr. Gary's comments came during a news conference at which he announced a concerted effort on the part of his administration to work closely with Anne Arundel Community College and the school board in budgeting, saving money and proposing new initiatives.
"I think what you're seeing here is a new team," said Mr. Gary, who was flanked by Martha Smith, president of the community college, and Carol S. Parham, the superintendent of schools.
It is his intention, he said, "to knock down the barriers of turf" that have prevented the three agencies from cooperating in the past.
"I need their help," Mr. Gary said. "I need their joint cooperation in pulling off some of these things we're going to do."
Mr. Gary pledged to meet monthly with Dr. Parham and Dr.
Smith. He also announced the appointment of Thomas Maxwell, a retired elementary school principal, as his full-time liaison with the school board, the community college and the library administrator. Mr. Maxwell, who was a school administrator for 26 years, has a $30,000-a-year contract.
Taxpayers will benefit from the close cooperation between county agencies as savings result from pooling such things as the maintenance of vehicles, buildings and grounds, or benefits such as health insurance or pensions, Mr. Gary said.
Mr. Gary said he was not contemplating budget cuts for departments that found ways to be thrifty.
"For every dollar they save, I'm going to put it back in their budget," he said.
Mr. Gary's embrace of the computer network project was welcomed by school officials, who faced some resistance in pitching the proposal to the previous council and administration.
Dr. Parham said she appreciated Mr. Gary's understanding that the project is necessary "for the economic well-being of the county."
The computer network proposal was not warmly embraced by Mr. Gary's predecessor, Robert R. Neall, who refused to include money for the network in his capital budget for the 1995 fiscal year.
The previous County Council, which also initially balked at paying for the project, raised questions about the system's cost and whether parts of the network would become obsolete before installation was complete.
An initial cost estimate of $17.5 million doubled to $35 million with addition of the costs of modifying schools to install the labs, nTC including electrical upgrades, asbestos removal, wall installation and air conditioning.
A $500,000 appropriation was approved in October after school officials came up with a more detailed plan.