By Sophia Bates
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
A top leader of the Dulaney High School PTSA said she is happy that County Executive Johny Olszewski will allocate $500,000 next year to begin the planning process for new Towson and Dulaney high schools.
Yara Cheikh, the vice president of the parenet-teacher organization at Dulaney, said that with new schools, there is also the hope of more funding allocated towards the upkeep of the schools.
“This funding is a step in the right direction,” Cheikh said. “Dulaney High School has been neglected for several decades. As a community we are hoping to help advocate for the passage of a comprehensive school construction funding bill that would allow schools across the county to be better maintained, renovated and replaced.”
Olszewski announced last month that he would propose spending $500,000 in the 2020 county budget to start planning for the new high schools — a goal that parents have been advocating for years.
“These are schools that have long been documented in need of additional assistance, progress and new schools,” Olszewski said. “Whether it’s severe overcrowding that we see at Towson or the conditions that are declining at Dulaney between lack of air conditioning and brown drinking water. I’ve consistently said, both as a candidate and now as county executive that I’m committed to seeing this through.”
Councilman David Marks, R-District 1, who represents Towson, said the two schools are among the oldest and most crowded in the county. He said the funding is important to the county.
“Funding for new high schools was a top priority for me when we considered the Fiscal Year 2020 budget,” Marks said. “We have high schools that are more than a half-century old, and it is time for the county to rebuild and modernize these facilities.”
Councilman Wade Kach, R-District 3, said he is pleased with Olszewski’s planning funds. In an email statement, Kach said the funds are something the county’s been seeking for a while.
“Families in the Dulaney and Towson communities have long advocated for much needed new high schools,” Kach said. “From overcrowding, to electrified athletic fields, to brown drinking water, burst water pipes, and lack of air conditioning, new schools are needed to bring the Dulaney community and the Towson community to ever greater academic achievement.”
Kach added: “Unfortunately, both school buildings have been neglected for so long that remodeling would, in the long run, be a waste of taxpayer funds.”
State Rep. Michele Guyton, D-Baltimore County, said she believes the reform is a positive shift for education in the county.
“I am thrilled to continue to actively work with the county executive’s office to bring these projects to fruition,” Guyton said. “I remain committed to supporting students and teachers, not only with appropriate facilities but also by supporting the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.”
“Both capital funding and this sweeping educational reform are very sound investments in the future of our families, our workforce and our state,” she added.
According to Olszewski’s statement, none of the projects can move forward without additional funding from the General Assembly.
“We are confident and especially grateful that our leaders in the state have prioritized school construction as an important issue in the General Assembly session,” Olszewski said. “I want to underline just how important that legislation is to ensure that after these initial dollars are put to use this year, that we can continue to work in the years ahead to ensure that we stay on schedule to provide all the new high schools that we have in Baltimore County.”
Cheikh believes that Olszewski will continue to push for the funding they need.
“In the Annapolis session, HB1 will be introduced to increase school construction,” she said. “The Olszewski administration made this a top priority of the last session. And I believe he will continue to push towards safer and more modern classrooms for students throughout the county.”
She added that there are short-term and long-term solutions for the schools.
“BCPS was awarded a Healthy School Grant from the state for approximately $3.5 million and requires a matching commitment from the county of $3.7 million,” Cheikh said. “The county has yet to commit the funds. In total, the cost to put in a short-term solution of vertical units would be $7.2 million.”