Politics & Government

Mayor, Officials Tout $1.1B School Construction Bill

The General Assembly approved the Baltimore City Public Schools Construction and Revitalization Act of 2013 and is expected to be signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley.

On Wednesday, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake touted the General Assembly’s approval of a bill that could result in up to $1.1 billion being spent on 15 new and 30 renovated city public schools.

Rawlings-Blake, in a news release, called the Baltimore City Public Schools Construction and Revitalization Act of 2013  "one of the most significant legislative achievements for the City of Baltimore in modern history."

The plan calls for the city and state to spend about $60 million a year to finance $1.1 billion in bonds issued by the Maryland Stadium Authority, which is largely funded by the state lottery.

Find out what's happening in North Baltimorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The money will be used to implement the 10-year building plan approved by the city schools last year and construction is scheduled to begin in the 2014-2015 school year, according to the news release.

Karen DeCamp, Greater Homewood Community Corporation's neighborhood programs director, who has worked with the Baltimore Education Coalition to pass the bill, said the legislation represents a community coming together to work for the capital investment city schools deserve. 

Find out what's happening in North Baltimorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This has been an incredible day for Baltimore, because it represents everyone working together to make something happen for our kids," DeCamp said.

The 10-year building plan could have a significant impact on North Baltimore's schools.

Here are the plan's recommendations as reported by Patch in November: 

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

  • The city’s proposed 10-year schools plan indicates that the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, one of the city’s premiere high schools, be renovated or replaced by year five.
  • The school, located at 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane, currently shares its campus with the all girls Western High School.
  • The plan estimates that it would cost $67.5 million to renovate the current building and $97.4 million to replace the building.
  • The school was given an Educational Adequacy Score of 47.1 with a score of 80 being the minimum goal for schools in the district.  The plan also argues that the school may need to have its capacity reduced because it’s projected 2016 enrollment of 1,413 would mean that only 59.7 percent of the schools space would be utilized.

 Barclay Elementary/Middle School

  • The plan argues that Barclay Elementary/Middle School, located at 2900 Barclay St., should be renovated within the next years because the report estimates it will be significantly cheaper than replacing the school.
  • According to the plan, it would cost $8.2 million to renovate the school and $13.9 million to replace the current building.
  • The building currently rates a 62.8 Educational Adequacy Score with a minimum score of 80 for the district.

Govans Elementary School

  • The facilities plan recommends the renovation or replacement of Govans Elementary School within two years.
  • It’s estimated it would cost $13.4 million to renovate the school and $10.9 to replace the building, located at 5801 York Road.
  • The school currently has and Educational Adequacy Score of 57.1 and the district has a minimum goal of 80 for its facilities.

Guilford Elementary/Middle School

  • City schools are recommending Guilford Elementary/Middle School be renovated or and possibly extended within the next eight years.
  • It’s estimated that it will cost $7.9 million to renovate the school, located at 4520 York Road, and $13.7 million to replace the building.
  • The current Educational Adequacy score for the facility is 57.9 and the district’s minimum goal is a score of 80.
  • The building is one of the few in North Baltimore that is expected to exceed its capacity by 2016.

Hampden Elementary/Middle School

  • Hampden Elementary and Middle School should be renovated by year nine, according to the school’s 10-year facilities plan.
  • It’s estimated that it will take $6.4 million to renovate the school, located at 3608 Chestnut Ave., and $13.9 million to replace the building.
  • The school currently has an Educational Adequacy Score of 57.4 and the district is aiming for a minimum score of 80 on all facilities in the next decade.

Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School

  • The cities 10-year facilities report recommends that Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School be renovated by year six of the plan.
  • It’s estimated that renovating the schools will cost $5.9 million and $9.9 million to replace the building, located at 100 E. 26th St.
  • The target Educational Adequacy score for the district is 80 and Margaret Brent currently scores a 52.5 on that measure.

Medfield Heights Elementary School

  • Medfield Heights Elementary School, 4300 Buchanan Ave., should be considered for renovation and possible replacement by year two of the 10-year facilities plan.
  • It’s estimated that renovations would cost $6.8 million and that replacing the building would cost about $7.9 million.
  • Currently the school has an Educational Adequacy Score of 51.6 and the school system is aiming for a minimum score of 80 on all facilities.
  • The school is expected to experience large enrollment increase during the next few years. By 2016 enrollment is expected to reach 468 students and the current school has a capacity of 199 students.   

The Mount Washington School

  • The 10-year facilities report recommends renovating the Mount Washington Intermediate Grades Building and possibly expanding the facility by year five of the plan.
  • It’s estimated that it will cost $6.5 million to renovate the building, located at 1801 Sulgrave Ave., and $9.8 million to replace the school.
  • The school currently has an Educational Adequacy Score of 31.5, one of the lowest in North Baltimore. The school district wants all of its buildings to have a minimum score of 80 within 10 years.
  • By 2016 the school is expected to have an enrollment in the intermediate grades of 486 students and the current building has a capacity of 355 students.

Roland Park Elementary/Middle School

  • The city’s school’s 10-year facility plan recommends renovating Roland Park Elementary/Middle School by year six of the plan.
  • The report estimates it could cost $16.9 million to renovate the building and $37.6 million to replace the school.  That is one of the most expensive estimates to replace a school in North Baltimore.
  • Currently the school, located at 5207 Roland Ave., has an Education Adequacy Score of 59.2 and the school district has a goal for each school to score a minimum of 80.

Walter P. Carter Elementary/Middle School

  • The school system’s proposed 10-year building plan recommends Walter P. Carter Elementary and Middle School be renovated in year two of the plan.
  • The school system estimates it will cost $10.7 million to renovate the building and $15.7 million to replace the school.  
  • The school’s current Educational Adequacy Score is 60.3, one of the highest scores in North Baltimore, but the goal is for buildings in the district to achieve a score of 80.

Waverly Elementary/Middle School

  • This school is already in the process of being replaced.

Western High School

  • The proposed 10-year building plan recommends renovating the city’s only all girls high school during year six of the program.
  • It’s estimated it would cost $39.7 million to renovate the building, located at 4600 Falls Road, and $56.2 million to replace the school.
  • The school has an Educational Adequacy Score of 47.2 and the goal of city schools is to provide buildings that score at least 80.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from North Baltimore