A commission appointed to study school construction and financing needs in Harford County recommended yesterday that a $34.8 million middle-high school be built on Patterson Mill Road to help relieve severe crowding in the congested Bel Air area.

The commission also suggested studying new fees that could be used to pay capital costs; considering a lease-purchase agreement for the new school building; and revising methods of projecting student enrollment.

Members of the Harkins Commission on School Construction Planning met with County Executive James M. Harkins yesterday to discuss the recommendations.

Harkins could not be reached for comment, but John O'Neill, the county's director of administration, said Harkins was pleased with the report.

Superintendent Jacqueline Haas has not seen the report and wants to review it with the school board before commenting, said Don Morrison, the school system's spokesman.

The recommended school site is a 90-acre parcel at Patterson Mill and Emmorton roads, and is owned by the county. A portion of the property is used by the Parks and Recreation Department for playing fields.

Robert Thomas, a school board member, said he supported the recommendation for a new school.

"Now we need to move on and put the funding in place and move the project to the fast track," said Thomas, adding that county officials should make securing funding from the state a top priority.

Other properties considered were on Vale Road, Magnolia and Route 40, Emmorton and Interstate 95 in Box Hill South, and Cedar Lane and Route 136.

Robert Bloom, a commission co-chairman, said the group accomplished its goals, but he was "a little disappointed" that the commission's finance subcommittee had not been able to offer more specific suggestions about revenue sources.

The report suggests further study of fees levied in other counties to raise money for school construction, along with the possible use of grants. In addition, the county should consider creating a foundation to pay for schools' minor operating and capital expenses.

The panel did not recommend imposition of an impact fee - levied on developers to help pay county infrastructure costs - because revenue generated by such a fee could be used only where growth is occurring.

"The challenge continues to be money," Bloom said. "The economy is not exactly robust. The amount of funding coming from the state continues to be cut. Everybody has the same problem."

Secondary school capacity began to lag behind elementary capacity as the county population grew in the 1990s and only primary schools were built, the report said. Today, the system has 32 elementary schools with a state-rated capacity of 18,740 students, while the eight middle and nine high schools have state-rated capacities of 9,863 and 11,547 students, respectively.

The commission also suggested priorities for future capital projects. The modernization of North Harford High School in fiscal years 2003 to 2006 and the new middle-high school in years 2003 to 2007 topped the list. Other projects included the math and science academy addition at Aberdeen High School in year 2004, renovation of Aberdeen High school for an alternative school program in years 2004 to 2006, and Bel Air High School's modernization in years 2006 to 2009.

The expected cost of school building projects through 2009 is about $165.6 million, O'Neill said.