A Hot Time For School Construction Projects

Pr. George's Finishing 1 New Site, 2 Additions

Teachers and students get summer vacation, but it's the busy season for the people charged with building and maintaining schools.

As with schools across the country, districts across Maryland often save the most difficult work -- those projects that, for example, involve jackhammers, intrusive roof replacement or the resurfacing or repaving of parking lots -- for the months when classes are not in session.

The capital budget approved by state lawmakers for the fiscal year that began last week includes $333 million for public school construction, the second-highest allocation in state history but less than the $400 million approved last year.

David G. Lever, executive director of Maryland's public school construction program, said the state tries to approve funding proposals early in the year to give school officials time to finish designing projects and solicit bids so work can begin as soon as students leave in June.

"Major projects might get started in summer but will continue in the school year," Lever said. "They could stretch on for 15 months or longer."

In Anne Arundel County, repair and maintenance work is being done on about 80 of the 188 school buildings, according to Alex Szachnowicz, the chief operating officer for the school system. Szachnowicz said the work includes painting, replacing lighting systems, and upgrading fire alarms and public address systems. Two high schools are getting renovated science wings that will be ready when the school year begins.

In addition to the repair and renovation work, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's and Prince George's counties are preparing new schools.

George R. Leah Jr., director of construction for Calvert schools, said many people on his staff skip or put off vacations to help prepare schools for the new year. He said one of the biggest projects in the county is the push to complete construction of Barstow Elementary School in Prince Frederick. The district also plans to spend about $900,000 on smaller improvements to school buildings.

Most area school systems use a combination of funds, including money from the capital improvement budget as well as state grants and county money, to make repairs and build schools.

In Charles County, carpeting is being installed at a number of schools, and several projects are underway. For example, at Mattawoman Middle School in Waldorf, a gym floor cracked by moisture is being replaced. Windows on the front of Matthew Henson Middle School are being replaced, and the parking lot at McDonough High School is being repaved, according to Charles Wineland, assistant superintendent for supporting services for Charles County schools.

As part of an effort to make renovations at each school every 20 to 25 years, four buildings in Howard County are getting comprehensive interior repair work. Ken Roey, facilities director for Howard schools, said that full-day kindergarten additions are being finished at three schools and that there are contracts for five schools to get additions over the next year.

In Montgomery County, 10 classroom addition projects and four stand-alone gymnasiums for elementary schools are expected to be completed by the end of the summer. James Song, director of the school system's construction division, said artificial turf is being installed at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. It's a $940,000 pilot project he said will be done by Aug. 15, before the high school football season.

Prince George's is putting the finishing touches on Vansville Elementary, the county's first entirely "green" school. The nearly $31 million building in Beltsville features equipment designed to save energy and reduce the school's carbon emissions. The school has a capacity of about 800 students and is scheduled to open in the fall.

Prince George's is also working on additions to Potomac High School, which will add space for 600 students at a cost of $24 million, and Parkdale High School, which will accommodate an additional 400 students for $19 million.

In St. Mary's County schools, design and construction supervisor Larry Hartwick said Evergreen Elementary School in California is nearly halfway done and should open for the 2009-10 school year. An addition and renovations at Leonardtown Elementary School have been completed, and staff members are spending part of the summer installing furniture and equipment.

Staff writer Nelson Hernandez contributed to this report.