Editor:
The Youth's Benefit Elementary School PTA would like to address the recent June 17 Aegis article "New Youth's Benefit Delayed.
The PTA has significant concerns about the proposed plan of capital facilities funding prioritization that was presented at the Harford County Board of Education meetings on June 13 and again on June 27. Historically, the board has provided the state and county with a list of priorities so that when funding from the state and or county becomes available, the projects can proceed. Currently, as the article stated, YBES is 95 percent complete in the design and development phase. In March and April 2011, the YBES PTA made several attempts to contact the board to ask for an explanation as to why YBES has been delayed after initial capital funds were designated in 2007. We feel it is poor public policy to continue to start and stop projects when capital funding is at a minimum. According to the HCPS website "The philosophy of the Harford County Public School System is determined by the citizens of the county and evolves through the expressions and interactions of the various agencies, organizations, governmental bodies, individuals and lay advisory groups within the County."
We request that the board review the proposed plan and question if it represents the current needs of the county and its own philosophy. It is our belief that the oldest, most populated, multi-building elementary schools should be replaced first. Specifically, we urge the board to fulfill its commitment to replace the YBES aging, multi-building facility and to consider replacing William Paca - Old Post's aging multi-building facility before beginning any other new capital improvement projects.
YBES and William Paca together represent more than 10 percent of the elementary student population of Harford County. By prioritizing these two schools for capital funding, the board of education has the opportunity to serve a large portion of the elementary student population of Harford County. The YBES PTA will continue to advocate for our children as well as for the best use of funds for the greatest number of elementary students in our county.
Laura Runyeon, President
Youth's Benefit Elementary PTA