The Wicomico County Board of Education voted Tuesday, March 29 to amend its fiscal year 2012 Capital Improvement Program request to the state, withdrawing the request for $13 million in state funding for the replacement Bennett Middle School project as a result of the March 1, 2011 action by the County Council to defer funding for the project
Acting on the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Dr. John E. Fredericksen and staff, the Board voted to amend its current Capital Budget and withdraw its request for $13 million in state funding for Bennett Middle in fiscal year 2012. Dr. David Lever, Executive Director of the Interagency Committee (IAC) on Public School Construction, had requested notification by April 1 if the school system would not be able to use the anticipated $5.2 million allocation from the state to begin construction of Bennett Middle in fiscal year 2012.
“It’s frustrating, because a day of delay is a day of service denied to our children,” Dr. Fredericksen said.
One month ago, the Wicomico County Council voted to defer the Bennett Middle project from its fiscal year 2012 capital plan into next year, thereby eliminating the possibility of including the project as part of its capital bond funding plan for FY2012. This means another potentially costly delay in a project that was originally scheduled to begin construction in January 2011. That planned start date was delayed when the county did not issue bonds for the $5 million approved in FY2010. More recently, the project schedule had been adjusted again to break ground in January 2012.
The Board also voted Tuesday to stop the development of construction documents on the Bennett Middle project until further notice, now that it is not known when the project will be funded and bid. Site development for the project will continue as needed.
Following the March 1 County Council vote, Superintendent and County Executive Rick Pollitt had extensive consultation and discussion with staff members and representatives of the finance industry, in hopes of quickly finding a way to keep the project on track for fiscal year 2012. They determined, however, that it would not be possible to secure alternative solutions for funding for the project in time to meet the IAC’s April 1 deadline. They will continue to explore alternative solutions for the project in the coming months.
County Executive Pollitt has announced the formation of a special Bennett Middle Task Force to tackle the funding challenges presented in planning the construction of the new Bennett Middle School, saying the project is “too important to the quality of our children’s education and the health of the Bennett Middle School population to allow undue delay.”
The Board of Education vote to withdraw its state FY2012 funding request for Bennett Middle was not a unanimous one. The Board passed the motion on a 4-3 vote. Board member Ronald O. Willey said he was concerned the Board was rushing to meet the IAC’s April 1 deadline to withdraw without knowing that the school system could be assured of securing funding again next year. It would be a shame if the Board gave up state funding, only to find a way to fund the project later this year, he said.
Brian Foret, Director of Facility Services for the school system, said the school system and Board have a long and beneficial relationship with the IAC, a relationship that the school system will seek to continue by communicating clearly about its construction plans and the status of local funding. The school system cannot in good faith afford to accept state funding for construction in FY2012 when it has no other funding source for construction.
“I think if we took the state’s money, we would be committing that we would start construction around the first of the year for this project, and I don’t think we can make that commitment,” he said.
The letter from Dr. Lever indicated that the school system would be able to withdraw its FY2012 request and reapply for FY2013 funding without prejudice, and that the school system’s forthrightness in this difficult situation would be remembered and acknowledged. The IAC’s funding recommendations on school projects are made each year, so funding for FY2013 cannot be guaranteed for this or any other project.
With Wicomico unable to use the $5.2 million that had been earmarked for Bennett Middle construction, the IAC will recommend to the Maryland Board of Public Works that the money be spent on other projects. That could mean funding for projects in other school systems, or additional funding for systemic renovation projects in Wicomico County. The IAC has already recommended full state funding for the roof project at Fruitland Intermediate School and a portion of the requested state funding for the roof project at Charles H. Chipman Elementary School.
The delay on the Bennett Middle project may well result in higher construction cost, although that will not be known until the project is actually bid. What is known is that the delay will further push back the full completion of the new James M. Bennett High School, Phase 3, which cannot be finished until Bennett Middle opens in its new location in Fruitland. The delay continues to push out two large and critically important projects in the Board’s capital plan, behind which many other school capital projects wait to be addressed.
On the other hand, the delay will give the school system the opportunity to continue its review of the design of the new Bennett Middle School, to determine if additional cost savings can be realized The plan for the new Bennett Middle School was developed over several years in a comprehensive planning process that involved teachers, parents, school system staff and representatives from the community. Throughout the process, the School Building Commission has played an important role in reviewing the designs and advising the Board of Education with its recommendations. The School Building Commission, appointed by the County, will continue to be a key part of the project team.
Fortunately, the delay will make it possible for the school system to take advantage of the recently approved revisions for state construction funding on approved public school projects at a higher percentage rate beginning next year – 96% of eligible construction costs for the next three years rather than 87% from fiscal years 2010-2012, Foret said. This is due to a variety of factors in the calculation formula, one of which takes into consideration the system’s rising percentage of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals. The higher state share could help cover some of the increases expected to occur as a result in the escalation of construction costs due to the delay.
Acting on the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Dr. John E. Fredericksen and staff, the Board voted to amend its current Capital Budget and withdraw its request for $13 million in state funding for Bennett Middle in fiscal year 2012. Dr. David Lever, Executive Director of the Interagency Committee (IAC) on Public School Construction, had requested notification by April 1 if the school system would not be able to use the anticipated $5.2 million allocation from the state to begin construction of Bennett Middle in fiscal year 2012.
“It’s frustrating, because a day of delay is a day of service denied to our children,” Dr. Fredericksen said.
One month ago, the Wicomico County Council voted to defer the Bennett Middle project from its fiscal year 2012 capital plan into next year, thereby eliminating the possibility of including the project as part of its capital bond funding plan for FY2012. This means another potentially costly delay in a project that was originally scheduled to begin construction in January 2011. That planned start date was delayed when the county did not issue bonds for the $5 million approved in FY2010. More recently, the project schedule had been adjusted again to break ground in January 2012.
The Board also voted Tuesday to stop the development of construction documents on the Bennett Middle project until further notice, now that it is not known when the project will be funded and bid. Site development for the project will continue as needed.
Following the March 1 County Council vote, Superintendent and County Executive Rick Pollitt had extensive consultation and discussion with staff members and representatives of the finance industry, in hopes of quickly finding a way to keep the project on track for fiscal year 2012. They determined, however, that it would not be possible to secure alternative solutions for funding for the project in time to meet the IAC’s April 1 deadline. They will continue to explore alternative solutions for the project in the coming months.
County Executive Pollitt has announced the formation of a special Bennett Middle Task Force to tackle the funding challenges presented in planning the construction of the new Bennett Middle School, saying the project is “too important to the quality of our children’s education and the health of the Bennett Middle School population to allow undue delay.”
The Board of Education vote to withdraw its state FY2012 funding request for Bennett Middle was not a unanimous one. The Board passed the motion on a 4-3 vote. Board member Ronald O. Willey said he was concerned the Board was rushing to meet the IAC’s April 1 deadline to withdraw without knowing that the school system could be assured of securing funding again next year. It would be a shame if the Board gave up state funding, only to find a way to fund the project later this year, he said.
Brian Foret, Director of Facility Services for the school system, said the school system and Board have a long and beneficial relationship with the IAC, a relationship that the school system will seek to continue by communicating clearly about its construction plans and the status of local funding. The school system cannot in good faith afford to accept state funding for construction in FY2012 when it has no other funding source for construction.
“I think if we took the state’s money, we would be committing that we would start construction around the first of the year for this project, and I don’t think we can make that commitment,” he said.
The letter from Dr. Lever indicated that the school system would be able to withdraw its FY2012 request and reapply for FY2013 funding without prejudice, and that the school system’s forthrightness in this difficult situation would be remembered and acknowledged. The IAC’s funding recommendations on school projects are made each year, so funding for FY2013 cannot be guaranteed for this or any other project.
With Wicomico unable to use the $5.2 million that had been earmarked for Bennett Middle construction, the IAC will recommend to the Maryland Board of Public Works that the money be spent on other projects. That could mean funding for projects in other school systems, or additional funding for systemic renovation projects in Wicomico County. The IAC has already recommended full state funding for the roof project at Fruitland Intermediate School and a portion of the requested state funding for the roof project at Charles H. Chipman Elementary School.
The delay on the Bennett Middle project may well result in higher construction cost, although that will not be known until the project is actually bid. What is known is that the delay will further push back the full completion of the new James M. Bennett High School, Phase 3, which cannot be finished until Bennett Middle opens in its new location in Fruitland. The delay continues to push out two large and critically important projects in the Board’s capital plan, behind which many other school capital projects wait to be addressed.
On the other hand, the delay will give the school system the opportunity to continue its review of the design of the new Bennett Middle School, to determine if additional cost savings can be realized The plan for the new Bennett Middle School was developed over several years in a comprehensive planning process that involved teachers, parents, school system staff and representatives from the community. Throughout the process, the School Building Commission has played an important role in reviewing the designs and advising the Board of Education with its recommendations. The School Building Commission, appointed by the County, will continue to be a key part of the project team.
Fortunately, the delay will make it possible for the school system to take advantage of the recently approved revisions for state construction funding on approved public school projects at a higher percentage rate beginning next year – 96% of eligible construction costs for the next three years rather than 87% from fiscal years 2010-2012, Foret said. This is due to a variety of factors in the calculation formula, one of which takes into consideration the system’s rising percentage of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals. The higher state share could help cover some of the increases expected to occur as a result in the escalation of construction costs due to the delay.
Don't forget, it was Pollitt who first blew the whistle on this absurdity -- when he announced that the County would not be able to do its part of the funding by borrowing money (issuing bonds). Now that some of his liberal supporters have their panties in a twist about it, he is trying to point the public anger at the Council, which simply took him at his word.
ReplyDeleteI admire the council for having sense enough to with hold funding.
ReplyDeleteUnlike the last 2 decades construction cost have decreased and any increase is due to the temporary increase in oil cost.
With no construct work being bid, I hope everyone has sense enough to realize that most jobs are 15 to 20% below the 2008 number when there was more work for contractors then they could do.
Joe you should not even publish that construction cost will be higher next year then this year. You really don't know. But you published that phase 3 or 4 times before you said We really don't know
I believe in the KISS principle(Keep It Simple)
ReplyDeleteOught - Ought = Naught
Here in Wicomico - when you have no substantial industrial base to begin with and you we have no means to entice new businesses - then one can only deduce that our County coffers are going to be empty.
Wishing it otherwise doesn't make it so.
The County Council made a very wise move in light of this deep recession and they should be commended. I give them an A+.
Just remember, Thomas Leggs will live out his life in better conditions than what the students and staff at BMS deal with everyday.
ReplyDeleteIt was a 4 - 3 vote by the Board of Ed to pull the plug on BMS this year??
ReplyDeleteIf the County Council already voted NO, where in the heck did the 3 BOE Bozos think they were going to get the local money to move it forward?
A 4 to 3 vote? Does anyone know how the vote went? Who voted for what??
ReplyDeleteCouple additional thoughts on this. First I was under the impression the BOE had until
ReplyDeleteApril 12th to say ya or nay. Next,
I've heard Bennett Middle was originially scheduled to begin next year but was moved up to this year due to Bennett High being done early. If correct, then Bennett Middle has just been put back to it's original schedule.
All that being said, it looks like the council was smart in their decision since there is a higher percentage rate(of money) from the state for construction costs.
So let's move on and try and work together and get "er" done. Quite trying to play the blame game and pointing fingers at the council. Do you hear this, Rick and Freddie?
dittos to 8:33 and 8:53. dr.fredericksons comment on the delay is similar to the numerous comments expressed regarding "going ahead" with this project NOW.
ReplyDeletei can sure relate though. let's see:
fixed income, yet:
needs a new roof for home
old but lein free vehicles
needs new washer and dryer
oh, this is how we live in the real world. the world where we don't have someone elses money (coming from citizens of this fine county).
try to remember to use other peoples money very wisely and conservatively.
take lessons from thomas jefferson. his writings on this topic are very wise and useful; even for today.....
2:00
ReplyDeleteYet you have high speed internet. If you took your $30 per month and used it for a washer and dryer payment, you would be living the high life!
The state will turn that money over to Balitmore City school system.
ReplyDelete11:33, I would say if you really want to "get er done," you should advise ALL parties to work together, not just two. That's generally how things are accomplished. Give and take, from all sides is the best way.
ReplyDelete“It’s frustrating, because a day of delay is a day of service denied to our children,” Dr. Fredericksen said.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a delay! Bennett High wasn't supposed to be completed and occupied until the fall of 2011! Maybe you can blame Whiting-Turner for finishing early. The BOE proposed a schedule when Bennett High was started and we (and the Council) are keeping you on it. Next Frederickson will have more of a right to complain if funding isn't allocated, but this year he can't.
7:12 how do you know i have high speed internet? wonder if this could be my daughter's connection to high speed internet. hmmmmm.
ReplyDeletethe point is all people need to live within their means; especially those that are living on our tax dollars.
by the way is everyone aware that after you've paid into social security for years and years you will still be taxed on your social security.
this rip-off never stops.
To 9:11 Post
ReplyDeleteYou are to funny. I have never heard it put that way - but you have driven home an excellent point.