Anne Arundel and Howard public schools received less money from the state for school construction projects ? but officials were satisfied.
“There weren?t any real surprises,” said Ray Brown, the Howard school system?s chief operating officer.
“Compared to other years, this was a very successful year,” said John Lister, a fiscal specialist with the Anne Arundel school system.
The state Board of Public Works provided Howard with $18.3 million of its requested $50 million and Anne Arundel with $27.4 million of its requested $32.8 million.
This decrease was reflected statewide with the board?s approval of a total of about $340 million for school construction projects compared with more than $400 million the previous fiscal year.
In Howard, much of this year?s money will go toward systemic renovations at various schools and the full-day kindergarten program.
Howard in fiscal 2008 received $21 million of its $50 million request, Brown said.
Likewise, Anne Arundel received about $27.8 million in fiscal 2008, but had asked for $57.2 million, Lister said.
However, the school system received a greater percentage of the total amount allotted for its projects, said Alex Szachnowicz, the school system?s chief facility officer.
In Anne Arundel, the money will enable the school system to proceed with paying off construction costs at the new Nantucket Elementary School as well as renovations at Severna Park Middle School and South Gate Elementary School, Lister said.
The school system also can proceed with systemic renovations, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and roofing, at Meade High School, Arundel Middle School and Odenton, Oakwood, Glen Burnie Park, Shipley?s Choice, Van Bokkelen and Tyler Heights elementary schools, Lister said.
