County asking for $36 million share from state

by Bill Gates

The statement from Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot’s office had a puzzling, even ominous title: “Two Baltimore County schools hopeful for construction funding welcome Franchot.”
    One of those schools was Dundalk High.
    Wait – “hopeful”? Wasn’t the new Dundalk High construction a done deal? Didn’t Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joseph Hairston say just last month that the groundbreaking probably will take place in July?
    Well, yes and yes. Franchot’s visit to Dundalk High on Feb. 3 was in response to Baltimore County requesting more state money to help with the construction costs.
    “It’s kind of a dance everyone does,” Franchot said after listening to the plans for the new Dundalk High/Sollers Point Tech facility and briefly touring Dundalk High. “The counties will move forward with their projects, but they’re still appealing for state dollars to offset some of their expenses.”
  

In this case, Baltimore County is asking the state to increase its contribution from $1.7 million to $36 million.
    The decision will be made by the state Board of Public Works in late April or early May, Franchot said.
    Either way, the construction of the new combined Dundalk High and Sollers Point Technical High building will proceed as planned.
    Franchot said he was impressed by the presentation, which included a history of Dundalk-Edgemere, the history of Dundalk High and Sollers Point Tech, the current building’s shortcomings and the plans for the new combined facility.
    “I’ve been all over the state, and this is the best briefing I’ve ever had as comptroller,” Franchot said. “It was very professional, very comprehensive, helped me understand the story that is going on here. And it’s a terrific story.
    “I love the fact [Dundalk High] is reinventing itself. That is a compliment to Principal [Tom] Shouldice.  This is a great project, connected to the community, and the students deserve a school that’s really 21st century.”
    At this point, however, Franchot could not guarantee the state can increase its funding. He is one vote on the Board of Public Works, along with Gov. Martin O’Malley and State Treasurer Nancy Kopp.
    Twenty-one school districts throughout Maryland have requested about $772  million for construction and renovation projects.
    “It is tough. There isn’t enough money,” Franchot said. “I really hope [Dundalk] is one of the schools that rises up and gets additional money, but I can’t guarantee anything. There are so many projects, and so few dollars.”
    Sollers Point Tech, which opened in 1948 as Sollers Point High School, lacks modern technology needed by a technical school and requires major renovations to its physical plant.
    Dundalk High, which opened in 1959, also requires major renovations.
    “This is a worn-out building,” Shouldice said. “Our physical facilities staff does a great job keeping this place functioning with Band-Aids, baling wire and bicycle-repair kits.”
    The estimated total cost of the new facility is just under $100 million.

School floor plans  are unveiled
    Part of the presentation for Franchot included architectural renderings of  the new Dundalk High/Sollers Point facility.
    One of the highlights is a “streetscape” concept for the corridor running between the Dundalk High side of the building and the Sollers Point side.
    The facility itself is a long, rectangular building on the site currently occupied by the Dundalk High athletic field – the “Bowl” – and the Baltimore County school bus depot.
    Dundalk High will be on the side facing Delvale Avenue.
    Sollers Point will have flexible lab rooms, both one story and two stories tall, which can be configured as needed.
    Entrances to the building will be through the second floor. The schools will share an auditorium, cafeteria and media center.
    Atop the two main floors, parts of the schools will have third and fourth floors.
    The Dundalk High portion of the facility will be 129,297 square feet, Sollers Point will be 74,524 square feet, and there will be 103,211 square feet of common areas for a total of 307,032 square feet.
    The common areas include the 20,760-square-foot gymnasium, the 11,300-square-foot auditorium and the 12,030-square-foot cafeteria.
    Dundalk High is designed for a maximum enrollment of 1,300 and Sollers Point for 500. If necessary, adjustments can be made to the common areas (particularly the cafeteria) to accommodate up to 300 additional students for Dundalk High.
    Former Sollers Point Tech principal, current Baltimore County Board of Education vice president and Dundalk High alumnus Ed Parker pointed out another benefit to the design of the school.
    The auditorium and gymnasium are at one end of the facility, separated from the educational areas by an open area.
    “With the auditorium and the gymnasium away from the actual school building, it will allow the community to more easily make use of them, as well,” Parker said.
    County Councilman John Olszewski Sr. (7th District), also a Dundalk High graduate, made the point to Franchot of the impact of a state-of-the-art building on Dundalk’s academic performance.
    “Once the facility is built, many Dundalk students will remain here instead of leaving for magnet schools,” Olszewski said. “That will help improve the school, test scores, and inspire other students to work harder.”
       
A stadium, too!
    The plans for the new facility include a stadium for football, soccer, track and field and other athletic events.
    “It’s great to hear about the stadium,” Olszewski said. “Being able to play in a stadium will encourage students to get involved with sports and stay academically eligible.”
    More details on the stadium were unavailable, although there has been speculation it will include an eight-lane track, which would be the largest on the east side of Baltimore County.
    Franchot noted how the stadium will be built on the current Dundalk High location.
    “I’m very excited that I might be sitting right where a game-winning field goal will be kicked in the future,” he said. “I’m looking forward to coming back [to Dundalk] and seeing all the progress that’s made.”