Identifying a long-term source of funding for older schools, providing students with resources to pass standardized tests and managing student growth are issues two of the eight Howard County School Board candidates say are important.
In the past week, The Examiner has been profiling the School Board candidates? top three issues.
Eight candidates are vying for five seats. This is the last of three stories detailing their responses.
Frank Aquino, vice president and general counsel for EA Engineering, Science and Technology Inc. in Hunt Valley, is making his second run for School Board. He has been active within the schools for the past decade and is active on numerous committees.
He said the board has to make sure there are “appropriate resources for students to pass [standardized tests].”
Finding a long-term funding source for older schools is another concern.
“The key is finding a way to [fund the renovations] without burdening the county,” he said.
Regarding student growth, Aquino said he would favor a process to build schools in advance of new developments and support new developments near less-crowded schools.
Ellen Flynn Giles, an editor and analyst for the energy division of McGraw-Hill, has volunteered with the school system for 20 years and also serves on many committees.
She also wants to make sureolder schools receive long-term funding.
“The county is still growing, and revitalization of major corridors, the build-out of Town Center, and the impact of BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure] will require the construction of additional seats, but funds must also be provided to address the critical maintenance and renovation needs of an aging infrastructure of existing schools, more than half of which are now between 30 to 50 years old,” said Giles.
