Bigger and better classrooms could come to several Anne Arundel elementary schools after the county executive pulled funding for expanding a Glen Burnie jail.
“I want to make sure we can greater leverage our county funds to get state dollars for [school expansion] projects,” County Executive John R. Leopold said.
Leopold said he was moving $1.1 million originally slated in the proposed fiscal 2009 $400 million capital budget for the beginning phase of a maximum-security expansion at the Ordinance Road Facility and applying it to feasibility studies for expanding elementary schools.
The money would help examine ways to expand Belle Grove and Folger McKinsey elementary schools ? studies originally cut from Leopold?s proposed capital budget.
The funds also would help find ways to combine programs at three elementary schools in Annapolis, Leopold said.
Residents were upset taxpayer money was going to expand a jail while the school system?s proposed fiscal 2009 operating budget was cut by $50 million, or 5 percent, by Leopold.
The council has hinted at possible cuts in the budget to push more money toward the schools. Some believe Leopold was trying to move ahead of the council.
“The county executive had a chance but didn?t take on the feasibility studies,” said County Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4.
“He was predicting the political wind and beat us.”
Leopold said he was trying to balance the needs of public safety and education.
To make up for the lost funding, some detention center programs such as the work-release program will be moved from the Jennifer Road facility in Annapolis to the Ordinance Road facility, which will free up cell space, Leopold said.
The detention centers are not overcrowded, but maximum-security cells to isolate problem inmates are needed, said Robin Harting, superintendent of the county?s detention facilities.
