More than 100 teachers and employees are calling on county and school officials and school board members to halt the renovation project at Mount Hebron High School in Howard.
Instead, they want a new school, because the $57.3 million in improvements would cost more than 70 percent of the cost of a new building, estimated to be around $80 million.
“This is the most expensive school renovation in Howard County history,” stated the teachers? April 8 letter sent to county and school officials and obtained by The Examiner.
“The consensus of the Mount Hebron staff is that spending this much money on the present building is an unwise use of taxpayer money. The renovation will also be a tremendous hardship on the students.”
On Thursday, the Howard County school board is expected to vote on the schematic design ? the general preliminary plan ? for the renovations at the 44-year-old school in Ellicott City.
Earlier this month, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman included the school board?s $27 million funding request for Hebron in his proposed fiscal 2009 capital budget.
He placed the money in a contingency fund, meaning the County Council must approve the transfer of these funds to the school board?s budget when an agreement on the renovation is reached.
“County Executive Ulman is clearly sympathetic to the project, because he placed it in a contingency fund,” said social studies teacher Mark Cates. “We know we have a window to effect change.”
Key elements of the renovation project include:
» Demolition of the old English wing and construction of a 70,000-square-foot addition in its place.
» Expanded and modernized fine arts, athletic and administrative suites.
» Modernized heating, ventilation and air-conditioning components and control systems.
Teachers said shortcomings still exist, including an outdated auditorium, an undersized cafeteria and no common area for students to gather.
“Even at $57 million, we?re not going to get what we need to deliver our programs to the ultimate,” said science teacher Tom Fruscello.
Board President Frank Aquino, though, said, “From what I?ve heard so far from the school system staff, the needs of the community and what the staff will recommend will be much closer together.”
If the school board approves the schematic design, a more detailed design plan will be completed by July.
