REPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED CAPITAL
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002

Tuesday, September 19, 2000

Greenwood

President Donald L. Arnold called the hearing to order at 7:15 p.m. In addition to Mr. Arnold, the following Board members were present: Ms. Phyllis E. Ettinger, Ms. Erica A. Cohn, Mr. John A. Hayden, III, Ms. Jean M. H. Jung, Mr. Michael P. Kennedy, Ms. Carolyn Ross-Holmes, Mr. James R. Sasiadek, Mr. Sanford V. Teplitzky, and Mr. James E. Walker. In addition, Dr. Joe A. Hairston, Superintendent of Schools, and staff members were present.

The following citizens addressed the Board:

1. Benjamin Dubin, Vice Chair of the Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities--Asked the Board to make each school fully accessible.

2. Judi Hammett, Parent of a Maiden Choice School student&emdash;Spoke of the urgent need for air conditioning at the Maiden Choice School. Ms. Hammett noted that children with neurological problems often have difficulty regulating body temperatures.

3. Phyllis Bloom, 1st Vice President of the Reisterstown-Glyndon-Owings Mills Coordinating Council&emdash;Thanked the Board for its past attention to the needs in those communities. R-O-G supports the proposed science lab renovations at Franklin and Owings Mills High Schools. Ms. Bloom stated that with the large number of homes built over the years in the Owings Mills community, she hoped the Board would consider the necessity of a middle school in that area.

4. Phyllis Bloom, representing the Franklin High School PTA&emdash;Offered the following wish list for Franklin High School:

• Assist in the conversion of the old library into a multi-room facility to accommodate large and small group special education needs.
• Install lighting in the new parking area in the front of the administration office.
• Excavate and waterproof the wall below grade in the area around Room 43 and make repairs to the water-damaged floor.
• Repair or replace the leaking canopies that connect separate buildings on campus.
• Repair the stairs in the old building.
• Repair auditorium stage floor and include it as part of the auditorium seating renovation project slated for next June.
• Build a covered pavilion in the cafeteria courtyard to allow for additional seating during lunch shifts.
• Provide emergency access to athletic fields.

5. Carl Alexander, representing the Old Court Middle School PTA&emdash;With the rapid student growth at Old Court, 100 students last year, space is at a premium. Mr. Alexander asked that the cafeteria be expanded, and he also asked that an auditorium be built for the school. With the large number of students coming to Old Court from feeder schools, Mr. Alexander asked for new classrooms.

6. Valerie Tate, President of the Old Court Middle School PTSA&emdash;Spoke of four (4) bathrooms that are closed because of settlement cracks, odor, and insects. Ms. Tate requested ventilation in the gymnasium, new library furniture, additional classrooms, additional tables in the cafeteria, and brackets for 26 televisions.

7. Paula Jones, Treasurer of the Old Court Middle School PTA&emdash;Requested air conditioners for the school to assist in creating an environment that is more conducive to improving student achievement.

8. Paula Jones, Vice President of the Milford Mill Academy PTA&emdash;Asked for a larger cafeteria for Milford. There are currently almost 400 students eating lunch at one time in a cafeteria designed to accommodate 275. She also requested hall lockers and gym lockers with built-in combination locks.

9. Mary Pat Kahle, a parent of three children in Baltimore County Public Schools&emdash;Asked the Board to give serious consideration to developing a systematic plan to air condition all Baltimore County Public Schools. Her reasons are as follows:

• High School Assessment testing and MSPAP testing occur during warm spring months. Air-conditioned classrooms would enable students to focus and produce their best work.
  
  
• Air conditioned buildings could extend learning opportunities for high risk students
  
  
• Students with allergies and/or asthma would benefit from a controlled classroom temperature.
  
  
• Computers would benefit from a temperature-controlled environment.
  
  
• Improved behavior.

10. Delegate Robert Zirkin&emdash;Thanked the Board for its support of the summer education pilot program. He informed Board members that he would be in Washington on Wednesday to address Congressman Hoyer and other politicians for the possibility of receiving federal funds for continuation of this program. As a resident of Owings Mills, he thanked the Board for its work on New Town Elementary and High School. However, with the rapid growth in the area, he asked the Board to consider construction of a middle school for Owings Mills.

At 7:44 p.m., Mr. Kennedy moved to adjourn the hearing. The motion was seconded by Mr. Walker and approved by the Board.

Respectfully submitted,

___________________

Joe A. Hairston

Secretary-Treasurer

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