Mount Hebron High School parents are calling on the county executive not to fund the school?s proposed renovations ? unless changes are made to plans they describe as severely inadequate.
“Not only are there deficiencies in the plan the school system presented, it?s not even adequately funded,” said Cindy Ardinger, chairwoman of Help Mount Hebron, a subcommittee of the school?s Parent Teacher Student Association, on Tuesday.
“If we have to defer the project until year, we should do that.”
Help Mount Hebron has urged parents and community members to write to County Executive Ken Ulman, describing their opposition.
Ulman is expected to submit his proposed fiscal 2009 capital budget April 1 to the County Council.
Parents have said the renovation plan is insufficient because it eliminates general education classrooms and leaves portable classrooms, an undersized cafeteria and congested hallways, continual complaints about the school, Ardinger said.
“We don?t want our grandchildren?s grandchildren paying for the mistakes made now,” Mount Hebron High parent Mike Cavey said.
The school system?s proposed capital budget dedicates $27 million for Mount Hebron High?s renovation with a long-term plan of $50 million for the entire project. The school system has said the project now would total around $54 million.
“At this point, we?re not planning to ask for any more money,” school system spokeswoman Patti Caplan said.
“So $50 million it is.”
The renovation plans include an expanded and modernized fine arts, athletic and administration suites, and improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning components and control systems.
The school system has until April 10 to submit the schematic design and cost estimate for the Mount Hebron High project to the school board.
Parents successfully halted another building plan at the 43-year-old Ellicott City school in May.
School board Member Diane Mikulis said the board received more than 200 e-mails asking members to defer a decision.
