The fire last week at Spring Ridge Middle School was on the minds of many speakers at the April 30th Public Hearing at Chopticon High School on the St. Mary’s County recommended FY 2014 Budget. As Del John Bohanan had in a letter (http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/31914 ) the day before to the commissioners, the speakers asked the county to forward fund the renovations to the school.

Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell, in opening remarks said the county would do whatever it could to get the issue resolved. And School Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano said the school system had moved the renovation “to the top of the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) list.”

Representatives of the League of Women Voters (LWV), parents and neighbors of the school called for the project to be advanced for the safety of the school’s children. It is believed the fire started in the school’s ancient HVAC system.

Effreda Mathis, one of the LWV representatives and a retired principal, noted that Spring Ridge opened a year before its twin, Leonardtown M.S. She said, “Spring Ridge has had no major renovations during its nearly 40 years of operation. It remains outdated and increasingly hazardous. It’s the only middle school in the county not to have been updated to meet current safety standards.”

Mathis said the fire exposed unsafe conditions. “There are immediate fire/safety issues, the need to reorganize instructional spaces to remove the remnants of the outmoded ‘open classroom’ design of the 70’s and to prepare a ‘state of the art’ plan for the future,” she said.

Mathis appeared at the microphone with St. Mary’s County LWV President Pat Dunlap.

Other speakers in support of advancing the renovation were Andrea Dyson, president of the Great Mills H.S. PTSA, retired educator Janice Walthour, and Aaron Mathis.

Other than the concerns about Spring Ridge, the meeting was relatively quiet for a budget hearing, being concluded by 8:30. Historically they have lasted well past 11, and usually feature long lines of teachers, deputies and their supporters. This year the commissioners are proposing to give the sheriff a five percent increase and the schools four percent.

The school superintendent spoke as members of the school board and his staff stood behind him. He thanked the commissioners for the proposed four percent increase which will allow the funding of the negotiated agreements with employees. He noted the absence o