Board budget request includes funds for new schools

The Howard County Board of Education has unanimously approved a capital budget request of nearly $100 million, which includes partial funding for two new schools, to submit to the state government for the 2013 fiscal year.

The request, approved at the board's meeting Thursday, Sept. 22, totals $98.7 million and marks the start of the 2013 budget process, which will end with final approval in May 2012.

The 2013 capital budget includes a new elementary school in Elkridge, which could open as soon at 2013, and a new 662-seat middle school in 2015, which would serve the northeast and southeast regions. Ken Roey, director of facilities, planning and management, said the system had been in talks with the county over the last two weeks to find at least one site for the board to consider.

The school system's long-term capital needs, not yet funded, include another new northeast elementary school in 2019, and a northeast high school which would open after 2020.

One of the two residents who spoke at a public hearing on the capital budget, Greg Ducot, of Glenmont, said his Columbia community supported the planning and construction of a new middle school. He urged the board to start the planning process as soon as possible, to help avoid major redistricting.

"Make it a priority now in order to leave sufficient time to complete construction, otherwise children forced to leave (their neighborhood school) during the critical development phase of middle school and high school will increase exponentially," he said.

The new middle school is scheduled to open the same year middle school redistricting could occur.

The board also approved the capital improvement program for the years 2014-2018, which totaled $481.4 million, and the long-range master plan through 2022, which totals $1 billion.

Laura Borowski, vice president of the Hammond High School PTSA, applauded the board for its foresight in planning for additions and renovations at the school starting in 2018.

"Our facility, the house of Hammond pride, must meet the highest standard of our newest high school buildings," she said. "Our community will be delighted to see our flagship stay strong."

The board also unanimously approved the priority list of capital projects associated with the budget. The first capital project to receive funding from the budget is renovations and additions at Atholton High School, scheduled to begin in April 2012.

Second on the list is construction at Phelps Luck Elementary, followed by a new elementary school in Elkridge, which the board is hoping will be ready to open in August 2013. The renovations and additions at Stevens Forest Elementary, scheduled to be completed by December 2013, also made the priority list, as did a roof replacement at Burleigh Manor Middle School.