InsideEd: Millions proposed for school building projects - Education news and issues in Baltimore that affect students and teachers, from kindergarten to college

"Investing in education," is how Wilson Parran put it. He's the president of the Calvert County commissioners. Parran was at Western School of Technology and Environmental Science in Catonsville to hear Gov. Martin O'Malley talk about the proposal to spend $333 million on school renovation and construction projects in the coming year. Other education, state and county leaders, including Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. and Baltimore County schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston, also joined the governor for a tour of the school, which is slated to receive nearly $900,000 in the coming school year for a new roof.

"If we expect a lot of our children, they should expect a lot of us," Parran told me. "We have to invest in the infrastructure of schools. We have to put our money where our mouth is."

An independent audit last year of Baltimore County school system's education plan unexpectedly pointed out the effect of aging buildings. The auditors said they were shocked to find some of the schools in as bad of a condition as they did. County and school officials routinely stress that the system has the 2nd oldest stock of school buildings in the state.

Without realizing it, Brittany Cole, a 17-year-old senior at Western Tech, echoed the audit's rationale on deteriorating school buildings --- it's hard to concentrate when you're too hot or too cold.

"I think a new roof will give the school better insulation," she said hopefully.

So, teachers, parents, students ... what needs fixing at your school?

Comments

The auditors were "shocked" to find Baltimore County's school buildings in such disrepair? Seriously?

Baltimore County's leadership (or lack thereof) has a tradition of hoping problems go away by simply ignoring them.

It is possibly the least progressive, most backward-thinking government in the region. That's why our schools are in disrepair.

In my son's school, Rodger's Forge Elementary, the toilets regularly break down. Why? Because the county has refused to address Towson's ridiculously overcrowded elementary schools.

We can't rely on the county to "do the right thing" on their own. We have to pressure them. I applaud the efforts of groups like Towson Families United -- www.towsonfamiliesunited.com -- that have recently exposed the county's indifference to the condition of our schools.

I suggest people stop just reading about this issue, and start taking action. Write letters. Call your elected officials. Demand better for your children.

Posted by: John Patterson | January 19, 2008 5:14 PM

How about air conditioning and a new roof (so that rain and snow don't leak into the 3rd floor classrooms) at Woodlawn High?

Posted by: K. | January 21, 2008 1:56 PM

Off the top of my head:

Woodhome is still having heating problems despite Dr. Alonso's promise on January 2 to get it fixed.

The entire building at Morrell Park is in terrible shape. My understanding is that some of its original construction involved materials that were inappropriate for the use to which they were put.

Bernard Harris isn't handicapped-accessible.

Francis Scott Key has had HVAC issues for a few years, and a leaky roof (although the roof might be fixed by now).

Sarah Roach is little more than a bunch of portables patched together.

Franklin Square's Special Education office has electrical issues.

Posted by: Claude | January 22, 2008 1:09 AM