Superintendent George Arlotto today recommended a $234.9 million FY2018 capital budget to the Board of Education that contains design and/or construction funding for nine major school projects while maintaining the priority order established by the 2015 MGT capital facilities study.
The request allocates more than $172 million to the following existing major projects, in priority order:
- Manor View Elementary renovation (construction), $13.0 million
- High Point Elementary renovation (construction), $15.3 million
- George Cromwell Elementary renovation (construction), $13.8 million
- Jessup Elementary replacement (construction), $17.1 million
- Arnold Elementary replacement (construction), $14.1 million
- Edgewater Elementary (design/construction), $15.1 million
- Tyler Heights Elementary (design/construction), $14.3 million
- Richard Henry Lee Elementary (design/construction), $13.0 million
- Crofton area High School (construction), $56.8 million
“This is an ambitious request but one which is necessary to help improve the learning environments we provide to our children,” Dr. Arlotto said. “It maintains the funding stream for five projects currently under way and funds critically needed projects at three additional existing schools as well as the new Crofton area high school.”
In addition, Dr. Arlotto’s request includes $8.6 million for prekindergarten and kindergarten additions at Park and Shady Side elementaries and the renovation of the Carrie Weedon Science Center building; $6 million for classroom additions at Marley and Solley elementary schools; and $7 million for open space enclosures at Brock Bridge and Shady Side elementary schools.
Dr. Arlotto also presented the Board with a recommended six-year Capital Improvement Plan which allocates anticipated funding for projects through FY2023.
The Board will hold a public workshop on Dr. Arlotto’s recommendations at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13, in the Board Room at the Parham Building, located at 2644 Riva Road in Annapolis. No public testimony will be taken at the workshop, but testimony will be taken at a public hearing scheduled to be held before the Board takes up initial adoption at its regularly scheduled September 21 meeting. That meeting begins at 7 p.m.
After approval by the Board, the plan will be submitted to the State of Maryland for funding consideration. The plan will also be part of the school system’s overall FY2018 budget request, to be forwarded to the County Executive in February 2017 after the Board holds additional public hearings. The County Council will review that plan and adopt a final capital budget for the school system by June 2017.
The complete recommendation can be found here.