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New schools too costly for some counties ["reassess these shiny new schools that we're building"]
Baltimore Sun ^ | May 4, 2011 | Julie Bykowicz

Posted on 05/05/2011 8:20:08 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Maryland...."This could just be the tip of the iceberg," he said, questioning whether other counties also might struggle to support new or enlarged schools given the toll the economy has taken on local property and income tax revenues. "In these tough times, perhaps we should reassess these shiny new schools that we're building."

Lever said this year's school construction package revealed more signs of continuing financial hardship in the counties.

Local officials asked for less money and had fewer projects planned than at any time in at least five years — probably, he said, because local governments can't afford to put up their portion of the construction costs.

The state's 23 counties and Baltimore asked for $612 million in state help for building schools — down from a peak of $894 million in fiscal year 2008.

In addition to the two major building delays, several counties waved off state support next year for smaller school projects, such as mechanical upgrades, because they can't pitch with their share.

Charles County officials have asked the state for another 120 days to decide whether they can accept $6.8 million in state money to build what was to be a huge, state-of-the-art high school in Waldorf. The county commissioners aren't sure if they will have the tax base to operate the planned St. Charles High School, a project in which the state has already invested $3.5 million and the county $8 million.

A new middle school in Wicomico County, which had been set to receive $5.2 million in state money Wednesday, is also on hold. The County Council voted in March to delay construction on the new Bennett Middle School in Fruitland for a year. With the county's capital money off the table, Wicomico officials withdrew their request for state funds....

(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: budget; education; schoolhouse; taxes

1 posted on 05/05/2011 8:20:16 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

$578 Million Dollar High School... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2JC9N0vc_I


2 posted on 05/05/2011 8:28:27 AM PDT by maddog55 (OBAMA: Why stupid people shouldn't vote.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Hey, at least they aren’t considering closing for a whole month:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/California-Considers-Shorter-School-Year-121246709.html?dr

Although, considering it’s CA, it might not be a bad thing.


3 posted on 05/05/2011 8:29:00 AM PDT by goldi (')
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The only thing that matters in education is funneling money to the Democrat party.


4 posted on 05/05/2011 8:49:22 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Build cheaper schools. Just make the classrooms large enough to put fifty kids inside, like in the old days. Hire One teacher and one aide, and that work just fine. Also cut that gym with the Jerry Jones sized score board.


5 posted on 05/05/2011 9:28:28 AM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: blueunicorn6

Not exactly. Developers like to have schools buiolt like palaces to serve their local projects. Makes good advertising. Plus parents perfer to pay school taxes rather than tuition at private schools. even though the private schools are better.


6 posted on 05/05/2011 9:31:23 AM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: RobbyS

Build cheaper schools. Just make the classrooms large enough to put fifty kids inside, like in the old days. Hire One teacher and one aide, and that work just fine.

&&&
That’s how it was in my grade school in the 1950s — minus the aide. We had on nun teaching us.

This would never work today. In my childhood, parents taught their children manners and respect for authority/elders, but, in America today, very few parents teach such lessons to their children.


7 posted on 05/05/2011 9:51:48 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Palin in 2012)
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To: Bigg Red

on nun = one nun


8 posted on 05/05/2011 9:52:40 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Palin in 2012)
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