A Harford County elementary school will get $500,000 in emergency state aid to replace a faulty heating system, Gov. Parris N. Glendening announced yesterday.
"This is an issue that involves the safety of our children," Mr. Glendening said at a news conference in Annapolis.
The heating system at Riverside Elementary School in Joppatowne has been repaired 60 times in the past two years, and two recent gas leaks alarmed parents.
On Jan. 25, a faulty chimney fan sent nonpoisonous fumes through the main school building, and on Feb. 3, natural gas leaked into a kindergarten annex at the school on Stillmeadow Drive.
Many parents said their children complained of nausea, dizziness and headaches.
Harford County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann requested the state aid after promising the school's parents that she would find money to repair the rooftop heating and cooling units, and replace the leaky roof.
The county executive also will introduce emergency legislation to the County Council asking for more than $400,000 for the projects.
Two weeks ago, parents demonstrated at the 27-year-old school, complaining that school officials weren't taking their concerns seriously.
Since then, 41 carbon monoxide detectors have been installed and an air conditioning contractor has been hired to examine and repair the equipment.
An industrial hygiene company inspected the building and determined that the air quality was within acceptable guidelines.
The county hazardous materials team also is making daily visits to check on the air quality. On Feb. 17, it cited the principal, Beretta Y. Goodwin, for failure to report the release of natural gas and carbon monoxide at the school.
The expedited funding for the school will allow a contract to be awarded for a new heating system in April and for a new roof for the school in August.
Money to correct the school's problems had been planned in the fiscal 1996 capital budget.