As your County Executive, I have made it a top priority to invest in the infrastructure of our educational facilities. As you likely are aware, I have funded the completion of Bennett High School, the construction of Bennett Middle, along with a new West Salisbury School. I have committed to the building of a new school for Beaver Run and it is in the planning stages. We are set to borrow $7 million in this budget to help begin construction.
This year we have worked with Dr. Hanlin and her staff to fully fund her Imagine 2022 Education Plan. We felt it was important to give her plan the opportunity to make a difference in the educational results for Wicomico County. Combined with the Maintenance of Effort, we are proposing to provide the Board of Education $2 million more than last year. This increase will be a recurring commitment to the Board of Education and we have full faith that they will succeed in their mission.
Considering the potential impending recession in 2020, the newly approved state minimum wage hike, the anticipated very expensive Kirwan Commission funding mandates, along with other financial issues out of our control that will affect the county's finances, we have to be cautious with our borrowing of bond money and expensive commitments in the years to come. As we get a better understanding of the depth of the recession and financial commitments of the Kirwan Commission, we will have a clearer idea when it is prudent to fund the school in Mardela.
It is my understanding that the Maryland General Assembly is expected to consider a strong Maryland School Construction legislation in January. As always we will be working with our local delegation to encourage this legislation to pass and hopefully make it possible to achieve funding for Mardela High/Middle School.
We have difficult choices to make daily and this was one. It is my hope that this explanation will help with everyone's understanding what my position is for Mardela High/Middle School.
72 comments:
how will school vouchers fit into your plan? I for one am sick of the waste of eduction funding in general and the strangle hold the BOE and unions have on the high cost. Teachers deserve support but BOE is a fat bloated Bureaucracy
Poorly written....but indirectly, instructive. Pay attention to the very specific use of "I" and "we".
That was clear as mud.
Thats a joke right bus kids to in town schools where they won't even go to class and walk the halls and cuss teachers. Mardela is ignored and still is considered the best school in Wicomico Co. besides the new schools that were built are overcrowded and at maximum capacity, as no thought was put into population increase.
Look at Mardela‘ stray scores as well as their athletics programs. They are always set aside for other schools it is time for them to get a well deserved upgrade. And who is talking about deserved or not deserved. Did these other schools go out and raise the money for their brand NEW schools. I know not. Let’s be fair and stop promising what will be done. But Mardela students and staff continue to exceed expectations with what they have so yes we aren’t talking that they deserve it but they have waited and so been pushed aside for years. Ok ya time to back up the talk that has been talking for way too long.
Hide or report this
Mardela deserves all the good things. I transferred from parkside where I was just a number to Mardela, my eleventh grade year, where I became a name. Mardela is a great influence to this day in my every day life. You are overlooking a great change that is needed for the county and let alone, a school that’s been ignored for way too long. This is a well-accomplished school with excellent community involvement. If you want to be voted back in, I would suggest redirecting where your funds go.
Hey Bob, you're about to hemorrhage votes on the west side, Mardela has waited long enough
This press release raises more questions than it answers. Maybe it can all be clarified at the meeting tonight. I doubt this release will thwart the large turnout that is to be expected at the meeting.
We also have some of the finest students in the county at Mardela too.
Apparently Bob Culver can predict an impending recession???? Bob if you can do that your in the wrong business buddy, what an arrogant statement to make.
I also like how you gave a statement that doesn't answer the question at hand.
Stereotypical politician double speak.
Mardela has long outgrown the current facility! As well as the poor heating and cooling systems throughout the building. The in town schools always get first priority. 🙄
Well Bob at least it is clear that you're saving our cost of communication services. You really didn't "clarify" anything.
Time for an intervention.
So glad there "is" grammar trolls like yourself. So petty and anal you have nothing more to add
Close Mardela down for crying out loud. The school is a financial drain on the county. That school is too small and is utterly useless as a High School. Send the kids to WIHI where there is plenty of room. The days small high schools is long over. Sorry but it's the truth.
Sounds like the kookland commission is another blue ribbon panel of college educated idiots that want to waste your tax dollars.
A whole lot of blah, blah, blah. Political Bulls**t. Mardela is sick of promises while the city schools get all the action. There are quite a few voters on the Mardela side of the county who will have a good memory come election time. Same ole, same ole.
They build where the population and money is. Go over the bridge and see how nice the schools in Montgomery county are. The shore gets the crap end of the stick
5:23
They also pay 3 to 4 times the amount in taxes that we do. Is that what you want? You want to triple the amount you pay in county taxes?
Where is all the money from casinos that are now in Maryland that were supposed to be paying for schools and roads? We had money to fund these projects before the casinos so now there should be an abundance of money in the budget for anything school related...
4:14 of course there will be a recession in 2020, the Democrats along with their progressive business buddies (you know Facebook, Google, Microsoft etc.) will ensure a recession comes along around June or July of 2020 (probably will start to happen right around the time of the Republican convention) so Trump can't tout the economy stupid. These people are that desperate to get Trump out of there.
It's always been that way for that dump of a school
If you think a recession is coming, blame your conservative leadership!
The superintendent could care less about Mardela. Her sights are set on the New performing arts school.
With ur plenty of THUGS NO THANKS.
Exactly. HE acts like HE paid for the schools. Someone called him out on FB. He didn't respond.
So middle class white kids get Shafted while we pay the bill?.
All Government/Public Schools are dismal, failing in every way and are NOT Educating your children...Parents you have been fooled; as your dear children are being Indoctrinated by the U.N.'s Agenda 21/Common Core. They are being dumbed down just as the U.N. planned. My greatest question is Why you can't see it.
Do YOUR homework, due diligence and search out the truth for yourself. See the comparisons with other countries. Ask yourself why Common Core Math is so bad...Why does it take 15 mins. to complete a simple math problem vs. doing it in your head or Quickly on paper?
There is so much more to this, but I got my children out many years ago. So sorry for all of you.
Sorry Bob you have caved into Dr Hanlins liberal GOFUNDME mindset
passing over the best school in Wicomico again.Bad move for the westside votes. This decision will haunt you daily until you expire your term as C.E.
Can I just say I didn’t have ac at wi hi wth? Yes it needs rehab but the money doesn’t come from thin air. Mary you didn’t want to name agencies you would cut. Why not? Tell me where the money will come from? And Larry really? Please !!!!!!! You have not been at Mardela for baseball and soccer I Was there I call bs! You are full of it and if Julie is brought before council fr Marc’s spot you know Damn we’ll her primary residence is not district 2 but since she backed you for rep central committee he chair you will vote for her. If you wanna keep you low key position at counci you better act right.
Bob we voted for you why are you listening to this idiot ! Are you having a HOGAN ?
Oh I forgot money grows in trees. Please Bob cave take out more loans for public opinion instead of public interest. That being said my child is a student there and I know how bad the bathroom is and leaks on the new gym floor but guess what Wicomico didn’t win the lottery. So where is the money coming from. Please tell me Fitzgerald?????
While the thug EBT parents from Bennett gets a Brand new TAX PAYER SCHOOL.
Old Bennett ?
459
Your another free loader EBT queen.
They also have a much higher pay rate than here for any job
And if hillary had won we would be a third world country by now
^^^This. Watch the “All-County Musical” quickly become a VPA Musical once they have enough people enrolled in the Theatre program. Like the rest of the public school activities, it’s rife with favoritism weighing in on who gets what. I’m all for supporting the Arts; it gives creatively-minded kids opportunities to grow. But we do not have the population, the tax base, or the career opportunities HERE to warrant funding a performing arts school.
I can vouch that Beaver Run is, by FAR, the school that needs to be replaced FIRST. It should have happened before both Bennett schools. Water problems to mold to aged infrastructure and classrooms. It is the same exact building I went to kindergarten in FIFTY years ago. These are our youngest being exposed to toxins and mold as their brains are in their most rapid state of growth and development. Safety of out students should ALWAYS be first when considering building replacement. I could say the same for Wi Middle.
Anonymous said...
Oh I forgot money grows in trees. Please Bob cave take out more loans for public opinion instead of public interest. That being said my child is a student there and I know how bad the bathroom is and leaks on the new gym floor but guess what Wicomico didn’t win the lottery. So where is the money coming from. Please tell me Fitzgerald?????
May 7, 2019 at 9:11 PM
Don Fitzgerald made an ass of himself.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Where is all the money from casinos that are now in Maryland that were supposed to be paying for schools and roads? We had money to fund these projects before the casinos so now there should be an abundance of money in the budget for anything school related...
May 7, 2019 at 6:02 PM
That's a good question, but we know that the Democrats lied to get gambling passed in Maryland and then kept the money for their own pet projects.
I was watching Pac 14 and saw Bob Culver caved into the Mardela crowd.
Michelle Wright you made some stupid comments and wasted 20 minutes of that meeting with your drivel. If you are so committed to the schools then why did you quit the Board of Ed? Be honest Ms. Wright.
Anonymous said...
The superintendent could care less about Mardela. Her sights are set on the New performing arts school.
May 7, 2019 at 7:20 PM
You've got that right. You know what a performing arts school means? It means they are catering to the liberal kids that refuse to work for a living and thinks that rich people need to "pay their fair share" so they can collect welfare and get free stuff. Bernie Sanders voters.
Anonymous said...
Exactly. HE acts like HE paid for the schools. Someone called him out on FB. He didn't respond.
May 7, 2019 at 7:38 PM
Yep, I saw that.
I think Mardela should be renovated and that will be the last school that needs anything major. Then from that point on the BOE needs to make damn sure they take care of the schools so the taxpayers don't have to go through this bullshit again. The schools are run down intentionally so that they can be replaced. When was the last time a homeowner ran their house into the ground and then decided to tear it down and build a new one? It doesn't work that way. Liberals love spending other peoples money.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I can vouch that Beaver Run is, by FAR, the school that needs to be replaced FIRST. It should have happened before both Bennett schools. Water problems to mold to aged infrastructure and classrooms. It is the same exact building I went to kindergarten in FIFTY years ago. These are our youngest being exposed to toxins and mold as their brains are in their most rapid state of growth and development. Safety of out students should ALWAYS be first when considering building replacement. I could say the same for Wi Middle.
May 7, 2019 at 11:15 PM
"I could say the same for Wi Middle."
What could you say about Wi Middle? It doesn't make sense.
To the person that is copy and pasting comments from facebook PLEASE STOP! The comments are not making sense with the flow of this thread. If people want to read those comments they will go to facebook.
May 8, 2019 at 12:53 AM
Typical eastern shore person. Unable to form an original thought. They have to repeat whatever drivel they hear.
It's not new schools we need. It's new leadership in the BOE we so desperately seek. Someone with courage enough to stand up for what's right and wrong. Someone to buck the system do go against the DOJ and there failing all liberal stupidity. As adults its own own fault why the schools are such a complete nightmare. New Schools don't make for better learning common sense does.
Don Fitzgerald is an embarrassment as president of the BOE. He owes Culver an apology. Shameful is what comes to mind as a supposedly leader.
I was just disgusted at Michelle Wright’s personal attack of Mr.Culver. She made accusations that she didn’t know were facts and should be embarrassed at herself. I doubt there is any shame with from where she came from.
Mardela crowd ? You Tax paying home owners and not EBT leaches like Bennett parents??
People claiming "there is room at WiHi", "A new Mardela is not needed" or "We don't need schools/we need new leadership" have not visited EITHER WiHi or Mardela, and/or just like to repeat the same parroted information that is posted here.
If you look at this objectively, the C.E.'s office foots the entire blame for this situation.
Also, your Board of Education is elected. So if you want new leadership, you know what you need to do!
FUNNY THE NON PROPERTY TAX PAYERS GET A BRAND NEW SCHOOL IN DABURY BUT PAYING PROPERTY TAX PAYERS CAN'T EVEN GET A SCHOOL UPGRADE FOR MARDELA SPRINGS FOR THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL ON THE EASTERN SHORE ????????
Great point.
It needs renovation as badly as Beaver Run. Last year I heard they were eliminating Wi Middle or putting some other group of students there or some such nonsense so it may not happen.
If it ain’t broke......suck it up. (BOE motto)
I have quite a few acres I pay property tax on in the Bennett school district.
Well wooley bulley..............I have a few acres in the Mardela school district that I pay property taxes on.......and quite a bit.
Bob Culver, and to a lesser extent, Wayne, were the adults in that room that night. I watched both clips on PAC 14. Bob is playing chess and the school board is playing politics. Hanlin, despite what is coming out of her mouth, wants Mardela closed, or so says a school board member. Those types want all the Mardela kids to get bussed into the slums in Salisbury to raise test scores. If Bob rolls over and gives the school board their way, someone's electoral head will be on a stick. Perhaps a reminder is needed. Bob, there are two schools on that side of Mardela, they both need to be made into two story buildings. Another thought, if the schools don't have AC or mold, who is to blame? Bad maintenance is at the feet of the school board, NOT Bob Culver. I also have a feeling that the board of ed's plan for Mardela needs a looking into. $$$$$$
Fitzgerald owes Culver an apology. If Mardela has stuff that doesn't work, it ain't Culver's fault, it's the BOE's.
Why isn’t the WCBOE taking care of their schools? Why do they let them get into a state like this? Why would they redo the basketball courts knowing the ac leaks on them? Priorities? If you knew u wanted a new school why ask for new track field on the only spot you could build the new school? If you sewer is jacked up why ask for a new parking lot? Hanlin get your act together think your plans thru instead of parading kids out to plea for something you should have taken care of. Of course Mardela needs a new school don’t mistake that for teacher or parent support for you. We know what you have been saying.
Sick of seeing money wasted on Education in this county. They have spent millions. And for what? Teachers who can't teach. Students who can't read, add, or know who Jimmy Carter is. And students who cause nothing but trouble in society.
Time to spend money on helping senior citizens. We are rapidly growing in number and sick of being left behind.
Remember that as elections get closer.
Hey, that's a really great point! School board spent money on athletic renovations, but all those teachers and kids were complaining about heat and AC? And that's Bob's fault? Bob, please don't let the BOE close Mardela schools!
Wicomico has one of the most most poorly run school systems in the state hands down. Many wont see it because they have never witnessed how other counties operate in the state but wicomico board of ed takes the trophy for being bad. More money won't fix it. It needs a total overhaul starting from the top positions down. Home school your kids. You will thank yourself for it in the future
You have an elected County Executive and School Board. Channel your anger at the ballot box. Elections have consequences.
1044, I have heard nothing about closing Mardela, care to elaborate on that statement? Or the lack of heat and A/c at Mardela?
1217, every school county in the state of Maryland is going thru the pains we have in our area. Please spare me the eyeore attitude about the shore. Aging schools are nothing new, some districts are pro active, ours is not, we put in tracks and fields.
And lastly, I have children in a "town" school, according to this blog, it is the least desirable one to boot. We like the school, small classrooms, great teachers etc. There are crappy kids there, but they are everywhere (even Mardela). Oh and I pay about 5k in county property taxes a year.
The Liberals run the schools down on purpose so the thugs get new ones every 10 yrs or they will riot MORE FREE STUFF FROM TAX PAYERS.
And a much denser population, as well as at least triple the income per household as Wicomico.
Well all you Westside people voted for him! Congrats! He is one of your HOME TOWN BOYS!
Why is there any controversy?? The state of Maryland does 2 billion a year in sales where's the F****** MONEY? Hey Culver stop acting like Jake Day and kissing the states ASS and start questioning their procedure
So building the Mike Lewis Castle is still on the agenda. Maybe he should be concerned that the deputies on patrol in this county has steadily declined under his leadership. More Deputies in the build do menial jobs so the Brass can go to lunch together every day. The B.O.E. and Sheriff's Office really need to tighten their belts and suck it up. Many of the upper staffs at both the B.O.E and W.C.S.O. supervise no one. Less feel good crap and take care of those doing the actual work would be nice.
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