34 Schools in Baltimore County Lack AC: Kamenetz

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced Tuesday that he and Superintendent Dallas Dance were requesting additional state funding to accelerate the modernization of schools.

The county executive said he has been working to address the issue over the past several years.

“When I began my term in office five years ago, I inherited a twin dilemma of aging schools and rising enrollment,” Kamenetz said. “Eighty percent of our schools were more than 40 years old, with just 48 percent air conditioned.”

Currently, 85 percent of the county’s public schools are air conditioned, according to Kamenetz, whose plan was for 99 percent of schools to be air conditioned by 2021.

“...with current levels of funding, we can finish the job by 2021, with the county putting in $2 for every $1 provided by the state,” Kamenetz said. “If the state were to match us dollar for dollar, we can get the job done even sooner.”

With additional assistance from the state of Maryland, Kamenetz said the school system would be able to have 100 percent of schools air conditioned by 2019.

He released a list of all schools lacking air conditioning and where they were on the list for getting it:

• Dumbarton Middle (Renovation)
• Westowne Elementary (Replacement)
• Relay Elementary (Replacement)
• Victory Villa Elementary (Replacement)
• Lansdowne Elementary (Replacement)
• Patapsco High (Limited Renovation)
• Lansdowne High (Limited Renovation)
• Woodlawn High (Limited Renovation)
• Dulaney High (Limited Renovation)
• Baltimore Highlands Elementary
• Bear Creek Elementary
• Chapel Hill Elementary
• Edmondson Heights Elementary
• Franklin Middle
• Grange Elementary
• Kingsville Elementary
• Oakleigh Elementary
• Pot Spring Elementary
• Arbutus Middle
• Dundalk Elementary
• Franklin High
• Golden Ring Middle
• Kenwood High
• Middle River Middle
• Southwest Academy Middle
• Battle Grove Elementary
• Bedford Elementary
• Berkshire Elementary
• Charlesmont Elementary
• Church Lane Elementary
• Colgate Elementary
• Orems Elementary
• Reisterstown Elementary
• Stemmers Run Middle

The school system used the following factors in prioritizing, according to Kamenetz: overcrowding needs, mechanical, engineering and plumbing assessments (MEC); identifying the least costly schools on the front end to complete as many schools as possible; geographic distribution; and the need for replacements/renovations.

“While I recognize that every school community would like to be first on the list,” Kamenetz said, “I know that people understand that there must be a process in place to move forward with funding.”

See the detailed schedule for completion of the air conditioning projects.

Pictured, Joppa View got air conditioning in the past few months. Photo Credit: Councilman David Marks.