Anne Arundel County (Map, News) - Studies that could ascertain if six aging Anne Arundel schools need to be renovated or new buildings be constructed might be put on hold if the County Council chops funding for them.

“We’ve used the data, over time, to help convince residents and the board that rebuilding shouldn’t be the default solution,” said Alex Szachnowicz, the school system’s chief facility officer, referring to feasibility studies.

“There are many positives to renovations.”

For the second day, council members asked school officials to testify about County Executive John R. Leopold’s proposed budgets, focusing mostly on the capital budget.

The school board had proposed a $188.3 million capital budget for fiscal 2009, and Leopold’s recommendation was only $136 million.

Among the projects not funded in Leopold’s proposal are feasibility studies for Belle Grove, Annapolis, Germantown, Folger McKinsey and Point Pleasant elementary schools and the Phoenix Center in Annapolis, a school for students with disabilities.

“To make steady progress and reduce our maintenance backlog, you need to have projects moving through the pipeline or at different stages,” said Szachnowicz. The school system has an estimated $1.5 billion maintenance backlog.

Because of a feasibility study, school officials learned they could save the school system about $8 million by combining West Meade and Pershing Hill elementary schools into one.

The school board approved that study in December.

It would cost about $42 million to replace both schools, as opposed to the $34 million price tag for the new Fort Meade elementary school, Szachnowicz said.

Councilman Ed Middlebrooks, R-District 2, asked school officials about the issues being considered when deciding on renovations.

The three considerations were capacity and enrollment issues, actual physical conditions at the building and the ability for staff to deliver academic programs in the building, Szachnowicz said.

School officials also were asked to defend what they would do if projects, like the $7.3 million feasibility study, which includes design and some construction funds, at Belle Grove Elementary, were not funded.

The school would either have to stay as it is or officials would have to try to find another facility for the students, said Board President Tricia Johnson.

jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com