Officials Debate Funding New School
Charles Grapples With Budget Cuts
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Thursday, October 1, 2009
Charles officials agree that the county needs a new high school. However, because of the county's financial situation, building the school is another story.
County commissioners and school board members held a work session this week to discuss relieving overcrowding in the school system and building a high school off Piney Church Road in Waldorf.
The commissioners agreed to put up $10 million in start-up operating costs, which would come from developers' fees. School board members said they would need $18 million in start-up costs, then $14 million each year for operating costs.
"This is the window of opportunity, because construction costs are down, and the affordability is there," said Wayne Cooper (D-At Large), president of the Board of Commissioners. "We would like to move forward."
The school board insisted on guarantees of funding for full and future operating costs for when the high school is planned to open in 2013. Several members said that without such guarantees, sending plans for state approval would be too risky.
School board member Pamela A. Pedersen said, "You are personally putting me in the position of having to step out in the unknown and risk having a school building built that I possibly can't afford."
Pedersen said that without the funding, other schools would have to take cuts to make way for the new high school.
Both boards have agreed on a $73 million, four-story design for the proposed school. The building would relieve crowding among the six Charles high schools, which are over capacity by 1,200 students.
Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D-St. Charles) said he did not want to see the project stall after the "heroic work" that has been done despite state budget cuts. Hodge said that he thinks the county and state will move out of the recession in time for the school to open.
School board member Jennifer S. Abell said that it would be fiscally irresponsible to proceed with the school.
"You don't go out and buy a new car and worry about how to make the payments," she said.
The commissioners could vote this week on the $10 million for the school's initial costs, Cooper said.
The school board is expected to vote on whether to submit plans for state approval at its next meeting, Oct. 13.
