Parents Can Express Budget Concerns at Public Hearing

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education is slated to adopt Superintendent Kevin Maxwell’s proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2014 Wednesday night, but not before parents have a chance to share their opinions at a public hearing in Annapolis.

The board will begin its general meeting at 7 p.m., but beginning at about 8 p.m., parents will be given three minutes each to testify before school officials about the capital budget or other budgetary concerns. Those wishing to address school officials can begin signing up in the Annapolis board room at 6 p.m., according to an Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) release.

Following the public hearing, the board is set to adopt the superintendent’s capital budget for fiscal year 2014 as well as his capital improvement plan that covers the next six years of projects.

Once adopted, the proposed budget that includes approximately $240 million for school maintenance and renovation projects will be sent to the State of Maryland to determine how much funding the county will receive from the state government for selected projects. 

As discussed in a public budget workshop held on Sept. 11, Maxwell is asking the state to supply nearly $48 million for upgrades and renovations at local schools.

Patch reported on the workshop and supplied a school-by-school breakdown of how the budget benefits various schools. Here’s how families in Crofton are affected.

Arundel Cluster

All Day Kindergarten and Pre-K Additions—Total request: $11 million. State requested funding: $4.62 million. (Four Seasons)

Crofton Elementary Revitalization—Total request: $14.9 million. State requested funding: $4.49 million.

• Project seeks to revitalize the school, originally constructed in 1969 with additions in 1999 and 2004. This will be the second year of construction at the school.

Crofton Middle, North Glen and Oakwood Elementary Schools Addition—Total request: $12.6 million. State requested funding: $4.05 million.

• Project seeks to increase student capacity and eliminate relocatable classrooms at Crofton Middle.

South River Cluster

All Day Kindergarten and Pre-K Additions—Total request: $11 million. State requested funding: $4.62 million. (Crofton Meadows)

Those that want to speak at the hearing should plan on arriving well before 8 p.m. since often times the meetings can move faster than expected.

A complete agenda for Wednesday night’s meeting can be found at the AACPS website.