Tempers Boil Over Need to Install AC in Schools

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The latest round in an ongoing battle over getting air conditioning installed in all of the state’s schools heated up this week as Baltimore area officials argued with a state board’s push for speedier changes.

The Maryland Board of Public Works – comprised of Gov. Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp – doles out construction money to school systems. And the board has been pushing for at least two years for Baltimore County to step up the pace of installing air conditioning in its schools.

In Baltimore County, 34 public schools don’t have air conditioning, forcing kids to “endure conditions that are unsafe, unhealthy and inhumane,” Franchot said previously.

Hogan and Franchot voted Wednesday to withhold $10 million from Baltimore County's school construction funding request and $5 million from Baltimore City's request.

Hogan said that the money would not be available unless leaders in those jurisdictions provided plans for portable air conditioning installation in all un-air-conditioned classrooms by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.

Several parents, teachers and students testified at the Board of Public Works hearing, speaking about the sweltering conditions in schools, where temperatures can climb into the 90s.

County leaders say they are working within the confines of the state process for securing funding for air conditioning.

"The governor and the comptroller care more about politics than building 21st century schools," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said. "That is unfortunate and fiscally irresponsible."

According to Kamenetz, there are 34 schools without air conditioning, with plans to install central AC in all of them by 2019.

The governor said that was not fast enough.

Franchot said at a previous hearing that Anne Arundel County was able to install air conditioning units for all classrooms in a matter of weeks, not years, and Baltimore County should do the same.

“You need to put boxed air conditioning in these classrooms. If you don’t, it’s a dereliction in duty. Please, go get the job done,” Franchot said.

‑This story includes reporting by Patch Editor Elizabeth Janney and Capital News Service.