HdG Middle/High School Brings State, Local Leaders Together In Havre de Grace

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — State, local and educational officials toured Havre de Grace Middle School Thursday and discussed the future Havre de Grace Middle/High building project.

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot was in attendance, along with Harford County Executive Barry Glassman and Havre de Grace Mayor William Martin, among others.

The discussion about the project was "very positive," according to a statement from the city, which said the mayor advocated for the students and emphasized the need for the new building.

The building is projected to cost $99.2 million, according to the Harford County Public Schools capital budget.

For the 2018 fiscal year, the Harford County Board of Education is requesting $10 million from the state of Maryland and $28 million from Harford County to go toward the new school.

Each year the county must prioritize its capital budget requests for school construction, and this year the Havre de Grace Middle/High School project is at the top of Harford County's list.

The Interagency on School Construction recommended the state grant the request for the $10 million; the Board of Public Works — which includes Franchot — will consider the funding allocations during a discussion of the state's school construction budget at its March 22 meeting in Annapolis.

For its part, Harford County is fully committed to advancing the project. During the county executive's state of the county address in January, Glassman said that the Havre de Grace Middle/High School project was a "key" infrastructure initiative and he was dedicated to moving it forward this year.