Weast unveils $258 million construction plan

Fiscal ’09 budget proposal calls for a reduction in the number of portable classrooms, money for security cameras and technology in schools

Weast’s six-year construction plan calls for a 44 percent reduction in portables and the addition of 325 classrooms, mostly in elementary schools, by fall 2013. Elementary school enrollment once again will be on the rise, mainly because of an increase in the county’s birth rate, Weast said.

The fiscal 2009 proposal is a 6.4 percent increase over last year’s construction budget; the $1.49 billion six-year plan 22.9 percent higher than the one approved two years ago.

There’s also money in Weast’s proposal to design and install digital security cameras in all of the county’s 38 middle schools, replace analog camera systems in all 25 high schools and add security locks at all 130 elementary schools. Weast also wants more computers and interactive technology — such as the Promethean ActivBoards used in middle school reform efforts — in all 200 schools.

‘‘I think we got the priorities right,” Weast said. ‘‘I think we balanced all the competing interests. Nobody wanted to delay or defer, but everybody understood we had to keep it within a 6.4 percent increase.”

In his proposal, Weast requests $132.8 million in state aid, which could be difficult considering the state’s $1.7 billion budget deficit. The Maryland General Assembly convened in Annapolis on Monday for a special session to devise a plan to plug the deficit.

Of the school system’s state aid request, $2.2 million is for two projects — the construction of Arcola Elementary School in Silver Spring and renovations to Parkland Middle School in Rockville — that have already received partial state funding.

Also, $3.4 million is for roof replacements; and $100,000 for the removal of two state-owned portables.

The remaining state aid — $127.1 million — would be for 26 projects that require state planning approval and construction funding. But if the state’s revenue shortfalls are worse than projected, some projects may be pushed back, school officials said.

It may be difficult for the school system to get the state on board to foot the bill for more than half the system’s construction needs in fiscal 2009.

‘‘It is abundantly clear, now more than ever, that we need our fair share of state funding,” Weast said in a statement. ‘‘Our construction needs are not diminishing, so it is imperative that we receive continued state support to maintain our commitment to providing excellent facilities for our students.”

The plan also includes money for classroom additions at Brookhaven, Fairland, Fox Chapel, Harmony Hills, Jackson Road, Montgomery Knolls, Rock View, Sherwood and Whetstone elementary schools.

Not everyone will be happy with the proposal.

Weast recommends delaying the $37 million construction of Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville for one year, and scaling back on money for renovations to Redland and Ridgeview middle schools, in Rockville and Gaithersburg, respectively.

‘‘Modifications of these two buildings will still occur, however, the scope of the projects will be substantially scaled back in order to submit a budget that is within the county’s anticipated fiscal capacity,” according to the budget proposal.

School board President Nancy Navarro said that while she ‘‘wasn’t too pleased” that the construction at Paint Branch is being delayed — the school is in her district — she understood that the county could be in a tough way financially.

‘‘It’s a difficult time, and we have to be as mindful as we can with the projects in front of us,” said Navarro (Dist. 5) of Silver Spring. ‘‘We understand that we have facility capacity needs, but we have to work with fiscal constraints. It’s a difficult time all around, and we’re hoping our delegation will come through for us at the state level.”

The school board is scheduled to vote on Weast’s recommendations at its Nov. 19 meeting. The recommended budget will be forwarded to County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), then the County Council, which makes the final decision on budgets.

The school board will hold a worksession at 7 p.m. Nov. 8, and public hearings at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15 in the Carver Educational Services Center at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.