Charles officials plead case for bigger new high school

Seeking 1,600 students instead of 1,300 OK'd now

Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

ANNAPOLIS — Requests and reactions varied Wednesday when school system representatives from Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties went before the state Board of Public Works.

They were among 18 local jurisdictions that participated in the annual appeal for school construction dollars, derisively referred to as the "begathon."

Gov. Martin O'Malley has proposed $250 million in school construction funding for fiscal 2011, slightly less than what was invested in the current fiscal year.

Charles County was the first system to go before the board, which consists of O'Malley, Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot and Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, all Democrats. The county led off the proceedings because county officials had an afternoon meeting in Washington, D.C.

Charles County Board of Education Chairwoman Roberta S. Wise made two requests on behalf of the school system. The first, to increase the state-rated capacity for a new high school from 1,300 to 1,600 students, generated considerable discussion among board members.

Wise, who was flanked by Superintendent of Schools James E. Richmond, Assistant Superintendent for Supporting Services Charles L. Wineland and fellow board member Pamela A. Pedersen, explained that the request was necessary due to a rapidly growing population that has led to "severe overcrowding in our high schools."

Specifically, the planned development of a "green city" in St. Charles will add 12,000 new homes to the county, including 1,200 this year. Already, the county's six high schools are bursting at the seams and some residential development has been put on hold.

"If we opened this school tomorrow, it would already be nearly filled," Wise told the state board.

"We know the explosion is on the horizon," Wineland echoed.

Increasing the school's capacity would cost $12 million — about $5 million in state aid — and lead to redistricting.

She asked the board for $8.2 million in first-year construction costs to move forward with the high school, which she said is slated to open in 2013.

The roughly $75 million school, which will be located on Piney Church Road across from Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, will feature a planetarium and digital classroom.

The school systems are competing for $62.5 million in available state aid. The rest has already been divvied up through a formula-driven process determined by the Interagency Committee on School Construction.

O'Malley appeared supportive of Charles' request because of its location within a sustainable community and its environmentally friendly and energy-efficient design.

He expressed aggravation that some new schools get built, only to have mobile classrooms moved in almost immediately due to overcrowding.

"It just seems a damn shame that a high school is going to have temporary trailers the second it's built," he said.

When O'Malley asked whether it was possible to increase capacity for less than $12 million, Wineland responded that construction costs are already at rock-bottom and putting off the project might send the price tag upward as the economy rebounds. "We know that the window is open," he said.

The county also appealed for money to replace the roof and heating and air-conditioning system at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School in Waldorf.

Franchot commented on the low ratings of the physical condition of some existing Charles County schools and asked if budget constraints were an issue.

"The renovations have had to take the back seat when our schools are so overcrowded," Wineland said.

State schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick chimed in that the low ratings also have to do with the age of many of the schools and that the problem is statewide.

"Every superintendent is aware of this," she said.

Following their testimony, the four Charles County representatives said they felt optimistic that state officials understood the urgency of the county's situation.

"We are running out of options," Pedersen said.

Prior to the county's official appeal, O'Malley praised the county's science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, initiative and its career readiness programs. "It's a wonderful vision," he said.

Calvert County Schools Superintendent Jack Smith requested $3 million in state aid to replace the aging Calvert High School in Prince Frederick.

St. Mary's County made two requests, $1.1 million to renovate Leonardtown Middle School and planning approval for a new elementary school in Leonardtown.

Staff writer Alan Brody contributed to this report.

lbuck@somdnews.com