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Smith: Schools need more
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Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith is looking for millions of dollars more in state funding for county schools.
Baltimore County (Map, News) - Receiving only 24 percent of its $80 million request for state funds for public school construction, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith said he remains optimistic he can secure more to improve the county’s aging facilities.
Gov. Martin O’Malley reserved $19.6 million for county schools in his proposed capital budget unveiled last week — a fraction of the $80.7 million Smith said is needed to ensure county schools meet educational standards.
Smith said he hopes to land substantially more from an unallocated $108 million O’Malley will request from the legislature.
“With a $20 million head start, we are confident we will do very well,” said Don Mohler, a Smith spokesman.
“Baltimore County has a very good friend in the State House. The winners of that will be the schools.”
Smith, who joined O’Malley last week to announce the rebuilding of the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School juvenile detention center in Parkville, highlighted the county’s $513 million allotment for transportation projects.
He emphasized the county’s success in past years securing additional education funds at the annual “begathon” parade of legislators and local officials pleading for money to build local schools before the state Board of Public Works.
O’Malley said last week he plans to scale the event down this year and allow testimony only from schools superintendents and school board members.
Baltimore County last year received $52 million of the $95 million Smith requested for schools, and in 2006 received $36 million after requesting $110 million.
The county this year received $78 million total for capital projects, with only Baltimore City and Montgomery County receiving more. Baltimore County is home to the second oldest stock of schools in the state, and Smith launched systemic renovations of all schools when he took office in 2002.
Renovations of all elementary schools are finished and improvements at all middle schools are near completion, he said.
BY THE NUMBERS
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal 2009 proposed capital budget includes these Baltimore County school construction project:
Cockeysville Middle: $6,826,000
Hereford Middle: $5,175,000
Hillcrest Elementary: $1,789,000
Loch Raven High: $1,091,000
Western School of Technology and Science: $860,000
Sandalwood Elementary: $815,000
Joppa View Elementary: $623,000
Woodbridge Elementary: $517,000
Kingsville Elementary: $514,000
Riderwood Elementary: $451,000
Arbutus Elementary: $355,000
Winand Elementary: $233,000
Sandy Plains Elementary: $167,000
Red House Run Elementary: $125,000
Winfield Elementary: $118,000
jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:30 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 19, 2008 re: "Baltimore school board tackles unfair school funding"
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5:16 PM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008
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11:43 AM MST on Mon., Jan. 21, 2008
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4:55 AM MST on Mon., Jan. 21, 2008
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Examiner Reader said:
I can't even read through this article. I'm sick and disgusted about the equation that money = education. I don't even understand what people are talking about anymore when it comes to kids and schools. I attended Catholic School where we didn't have "amenities" like a film studio, air conditioning, carpeting, fancy sporting equipment, a formal cafeteria, theatre, tennis courts or new books every single year. We had plenty of discipline and an environment that insisted on respect. And my parents would have put me in my place were I not getting through school or causing trouble. I graduated, learned how to analyze, read, write, became quite self-reliant and didn't look for others to CONSTANTLY bail me out or make excuses for my failures. Schools are not home and educators are not babysitters and should not be taking the place of parents. Less money, more smarts. Get with it.
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examiner reader said:
lets see need more money but all I see is when the Schools get more money they make more 140K asst superintendent positions, look at the web site under jobs and see the new ones they have created for 6/1/08 (bcps.org)and maybe we'll see the facts spelled out, the schools are nothing employees are nothing but they make more chiefs but where are all the indians at??? believe me when they have 8 electricians in BCPS facilities and 10 bosses something is certainly wrong in my eyes, so answer me that examiner!!!
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Examiner Reader said:
Since Smith is O'malley's "boy" these days, you would think that the boy gov would repay his dear friend with some cash for the schools. Especially since O'Malley wants Smith to be the next comptroller... what a joke.
22 agree | 31 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
well jimmy where is the money coming from? you want your handler, marty y;'malley to raise taxes again? prehaps if you did not give large increases to your aides and county employees there would be more cash for other items.
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