Maryland Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski just joined a list of senators nationwide who are pleading for more federal funding for school systems likely to be affected by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list.
In the letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman, the political leaders don’t get specific about the dollar amounts they would like or the school systems that should receive the bulk of the funding. But the request makes clear a need for the White House to pay attention to the expected population shifts that will occur from 2008 to 2012 due to BRAC.
Currently there are no line-item amounts in the federal budget earmarked for BRAC-impacted schools. “Local communities are in the process of determining their requirements for additional classroom space, and construction costs associated with such growth have generally been absorbed locally,” the letter says.
“However, these communities are finding themselves in a ‘perfect storm’ of military growth as a result of the federal government’s actions. … For this reason, we believe an initial infusion of funding is necessary and appropriate to allow impacted school systems to meet construction costs.”
Other senators who signed their names to the assistance request include Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Jim Talent, R-Mo., Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.
In Maryland, state economic development leaders have said they expect the creation of 40,000 to 60,000 jobs, but they’re unsure how many added residents this comes to. Most growth will be split between Fort Meade and the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Brian Edwards, chief public information officer for Montgomery County Public Schools, said the expansion of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda is expected to produce some increase in the school’s enrollment.
However, no new schools are set to be built to deal exclusively with BRAC’s impact.
