School officials amend Mount Hebron renovation plan

Howard County (Map, News) - Ellicott City parents’ requests for changes to a Mount Hebron High School renovation plan have driven up the estimated cost from $54 million to more than $57 million.

“I think the school system considered and evaluated the concerns we identified and made an attempt to resolve them,” said Linda Dombrowski, member of Help Mount Hebron, a PTA subgroup consisting of parents, teachers and students that has been advocating for changes to the school.

The plan, revised by Howard school officials, must be approved by the School Board.

Parents raised several concerns with the old plan, including a loss of four general classrooms. The new proposal includes eight more general classrooms, said Ray Brown, the school system’s chief operating officer.

“Space was always an issue, so gaining additional classrooms was helpful,” Dombrowski said.

Another key concern from parents was that the school meet requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A June 2007 architectural assessment by Gilbert Architects, of Owings Mills, said the school should have ADA upgrades to door hardware, restroom fixtures and drinking fountains.

In the new proposal, the school system included some ADA upgrades such as making bathrooms handicapped-accessible.

Changes include:

• Replacing or repairing heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment;

• Expanding cafeteria into the faculty lounge area;

• Increasing storage area for athletics and physical education classes;

• Using modulars instead of portables; they are larger and can be subdivided into spaces.

The school system’s proposed capital budget now dedicates $27 million for renovations. The school system now will request an additional $27.1 million next year. About $3.1 million has been appropriated for planning, school officials said.

Parents were ready to seek a postponement of the project if changes weren’t made. Although it’s slightly more expensive, parents say it’s sufficient as long as the school meets the students’ needs.

Superintendent Sydney Cousin will present this revised plan and his staff’s recommendation to the school board on April 10.

jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com

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