Superintendent Kimberly Hill and Board of Education President Virginia McGraw appealed to the state Board of Public Works (BPW) last week for $6 million in additional school construction funding.
“Our request today combines an appeal for final construction funding for our newest school, a systemic renovation for an aging school, planning approval and construction funding for kindergarten additions and planning approval for a new elementary school,” Hill told the BPW. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) requested more than $15 million in state funding for its fiscal year 2016 capital improvement plan. The State’s Interagency Committee on School Construction (IAC) has recommended approval of $8.95 million and local planning for several construction projects.
School systems annually appeal to the state Board of Public Works for capital improvement funding beyond the IAC recommendation. The BPW includes Governor Larry Hogan, State Comptroller Peter Franchot and State Treasurer Nancy Kopp.
The school system’s priority is for final state construction funding for St. Charles High School. The IAC recommended state approval of $6.7 million, which is $3.2 million short of final payment. “By eliminating our outstanding obligation for St. Charles, which opened in August, it will relieve the financial burden our county government faces to forward fund the state’s project share,” Hill said. Moving forward, CCPS hopes to focus on funding renovations and additions to bring the same level of educational and building performance to older facilities as is found in newer schools.
CCPS also appealed for full funding for systemic renovations at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, a nearly 40-year-old facility. The systemic renovations include heating and air conditioning unit replacements that will help maintain Stoddert and prepare it for future renovation and expansion.
Hill discussed the need for full funding for construction for full-day kindergarten additions at Mary H. Matula Elementary School and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School. The IAC recommended local planning as well as partial funding for these two projects.
Finally, Hill asked the Board for planning approval for a new elementary school in the Billingsley Road area to help reduce crowding in five neighborhood schools. The school system is negotiating for land and has a property approval submission filed with the state.
The IAC previously recommended local planning approval for the renovation/expansion of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School. In a facilities study completed last school year, Mudd was highly ranked as needing renovation. CCPS and the Charles County Commissioners contracted a comprehensive facility study to assist the Board of Education as it begins developing long range plans for renovations while also programming for new capacity. The contractor evaluated all CCPS schools and centers and provided recommendations for nearly $600 million in renovations, additions and new construction over the next decade.
The facilities study confirmed that many older schools need upgrades of all types – mechanical, electrical and redesigned spaces to accommodate 21st-century instructional advances.
“Charles County for many years was one of the fastest growing school systems in the state, causing us to focus solely on building to accommodate new students rather than renovations,” Hill said. Since 2005, Charles County Public Schools has built five new schools. The last complete school renovations were in 2001 when CCPS finished additions and renovations at Henry E. Lackey High School and J.P. Ryon Elementary School.