The Howard County Board of Education yesterday approved a $125 million capital budget request proposed by Superintendent Sydney Cousin for the coming year.

The budget calls for a long list of building and renovation projects, including:

* a large-scale renovation and expansion of Mt. Hebron High School;

* systemic renovations at multiple schools and offices;

* the conversion of the former Cedar Lane school building into a community center;

* an addition to Northfield Elementary School;

* a new maintenance facility and warehouse;

* computer and technology upgrades;

* construction of dance studios at Hammond and Centennial high schools;

* planning of an addition to Bellows Spring Elementary School.

At the school board’s Oct. 2 meeting, members voted to support Cousin’s spending plan for fiscal 2010, which begins July 1, 2009. The funding request will next be submitted to state and county officials.

School board chairman Frank Aquino said board members’ discussion about the proposed budget focused on the concern that projects might later need to be trimmed from the plan if it is not fully funded.

“We put projects in the budget that we think are essential to provide services to Howard County residents,” Aquino said. “We will make adjustments later as needed.”

---

user comments (0)