By Caitlyn Freeman
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore County Board of Education voted 6-5 on Tuesday to ask the state for an additional $139 million so that BCPS can replace both Towson and Dulaney high schools with new facilities.
The money would be on top of the $169 million that was already included in the 2023 fiscal year state capital budget request the county school system was planning to send to the state next month.
The amendment to the state capital budget request, which came from board Vice Chair Julie Henn, District 5, includes an additional $66 million to replace Towson, located at 69 Cedar Ave., and $73 million for Dulaney, located at 255 E. Padonia Road. The rest of the $169 million would be used to renovate other BCPS schools.
The amendment goes against the recommendations laid out in the Multi-Year Improvement Plan for Schools, a feasibility study conducted by CanonDesign that focused on how BCPS could maximize state and county funding to renovate schools over the next 15 years. The report recommended that Towson and Dulaney high schools be renovated rather than replaced.
Henn said she was motivated to do what she felt was best for Towson and Dulaney even if that goes against the MYIPAS recommendations.
“So, what has become clear to me since our last session, and since poring over data and reports and more data and reports is that we are not being asked to approve a capital request that reflects what is best for Dulaney and Towson,” Henn said. “That’s not what the Canon recommendation suggests, nor has BCPS ever said that a renovation is best. In fact, all of our documentation, including our comprehensive annual facilities report, and our educational facilities master plan, indicate that we know a replacement is best.”
Each fall, county school boards throughout the state send forth their state capital budget requests that seek state government money for major projects in those counties. The vote on Tuesday adopted the request that Baltimore County will make this year for money that will be spent in the 2023 fiscal year.
During the public comment section of the meeting, State Del. Cathi Forbes, D-Towson, spoke in support of replacing the schools and about her concerns with MYIPAS.
“While it is admirable to want all schools to be touched in the next 15 years, many buildings need more comprehensive work now,” Forbes said.
During a presentation to the board prior to the vote, Pete Dixit, executive director of facilities management and strategic planning for BCPS, said the replacement of Towson and Dulaney would mean that renovations to approximately 41 other schools would be delayed beyond the 15 years specified in the Canon report.
Some of the schools on Dixit’s list include Warren Elementary School in Cockeysville, Chesapeake High School in Essex and Woodlawn Middle School in Gwynn Oak.
This claim was disputed by board member Lisa Mack, District 1, who said some of the schools on Dixit’s list were recently renovated, making his argument “misleading.” Dixit responded by explaining that while the schools may be new now, they’ll most likely need touch ups within 15 years.
Board Chair Makeda Scott, District 4, who opposed Henn’s amendment, warned school officials that many other schools would suffer if Towson and Dulaney were replaced with new facilities.
“I think you should keep the slide up of those 41 schools that are up there, because those schools are in all of our districts, in all of our areas,” Scott said. “And I think board members should remember that and be aware of that.”
Scott added that board members who voted in favor of Henn’s amendment may find they have a difficult time explaining to teachers, parents and students why their facilities won’t be fixed in the near future.
Christian Thomas, the board’s student member who can’t vote on budgetary items, inquired about the emphasis on Towson and Dulaney when several schools in the district are in need as well.
“I just don’t understand how we could accept that with what Mr. Dixit just said about how over the next 15 years, these schools are going to be starting to get worse, but I just don’t understand how we could not prioritize these schools along with Dulaney and Towson,” Thomas said.
In addition to Scott, the amendment was opposed by Rod McMillion, District 7, Cheryl Pasteur, District 2, Erin Hager, member at large, and Moalie Jose, member at large.
However, the board then voted 11-0 to approve the new amended budget proposal, which is due to the state in October.
In addition to Tuesday’s budget vote, the school board sent a proposed social media policy back to the policy committee for revisions.
The new policy comes at the recommendation of the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education, which sent the school board a letter in January stating that the agency had received complaints about board member’s conduct on social media and noted that the school board’s current board handbook does not include guidance on the topic.