Community members have spoken. Funding has been proposed. Now come the weighty questions: How much will renovations at Mount Hebron High School cost?
What will the renovations be?
How much money will actually be set aside after the budget process ends in the spring?
And these answers rest with the planning committee, which will develop design options for the renovations by February, said Ken Roey, the school system?s executive director of facilities planning and management, at a meeting Monday when the School Board approved its proposed capital budget for the upcoming year.
The first priority is addressing the building?s infrastructure ? its heating, plumbing and electrical systems ? said Raymond Brown, the school system?s chief operating officer.
Fire and life safety code deficiencies, identified in the Gilbert Architects report in June, will be corrected during the renovations, Roey said.
The construction of an annex is one possibility as renovations get under way.
“The annex would give us flexibility to work in one part of the building while the students are in the annex,” said Roey, who added it would minimize disruption for students, a major concern voiced by parents at last month?s public hearing.
Renovations could begin July 1, 2008.
Cindy Ardinger, chairwoman of Help Mount Hebron, a group asking for renovations at the school, says her group is cautiously optimistic.
“If the details are available, then we?re forcing [County Executive] Ken Ulman to evaluate and determine if it?s sufficient to meet the school?s goals,” Ardinger said.
But in the end, it comes down to money.
“Quite honestly, even if we wanted to [increase funds], it?s not realistic,” said School Board Member Sandra French at a board meeting Monday. Last year?s final capital budget came in at nearly $20 million below what the School Board requested.
