Interim Superintendent Patricia L. Skebeck is expected to recommend that the Harford County Board of Education remove $10 million in county fund appropriations from the planned Red Pump Elementary School project and transfer those appropriations to fund Campus Hills Elementary School instead.
The recommendation cites Harford County Executive David Craig’s proposed FY 2010 budget, which includes Campus Hills, although Craig has said publicly and in the presence of school officials that his budget would be amended to reflect the Harford County Council’s intention to continue to support a new school at Red Pump, but not at Campus Hills at this time.
What remains to be seen is whether or not the school board will go along with the interim superintendent’s recommendation. A vote is expected at the board’s regular business meeting in Bel Air Monday night.
What is the fascination with the Campus Hills site? Traffic is terrible there, not to mention the fact it will only get worse with Towson University looking to build next to HCC.
Some Body bought up the Brown property which is directly across from the collage. it’s my under standing she rented the garage on her property to the collage. not sure how many acre’s she has. but I do know it joins back to back too prospect elementary.
The proposed Shucks Rd school site is OUTside of the Master Land Use Plan’s Development Envelope. Most likely, private septic and wells will NOT be sufficient for a school and P&R. Therefore, public water and sewer “must” be extended to the school site. Everyone in the path can then hook up to public utilities. Resulting in unauthorized expansion of the Dev Env, and huge increase in traffic problems in the area. Red Pump School is already 18 months ahead in construction process, therefore fixing overcrowding 18 months earlier than Shucks Rd would. No brainer.
If the BOE goes ahead with Red Pump and the state does not restore funding, which they have not indicated they would do, Harford County would be left picking up that very large and expensive tab. Most likely the board of education which means no new schools for a long time. That is a big risk to take. The state pulled funding from Red Pump. Campus Hills is something the state will pay for. They both have traffic issues and both require septic to be installed. Ultimately one is cheaper when you consider opportunity costs of all the shifting of kids that would have to be done.
What is in the “secret” report the Council will not share with us?
Cdev, the Harford County Council’s report is no secret. See for yourself:
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/council/Download/1048.pdf
Thanks Cindy. When I called in March and asked to see this I was told it was “not availible” despite my tax dollars be spent on it. That said when I read it I have come to conclude that when you put two hot heads in a room together with the best of intentions of a comprimise they fight and nothing good comes from it.
I see both sides of this as being viable. If you know long term you are going to build both schools and can only afford one at a time then it makes sense to do Campus Hills first which eleviates the development for the sewer at Red Pump which means you do not have to pay for a temporary septic system. Short Term Red Pump opens up immediate development, although in this economy I do not see it happening anytime soon, thus the talk of the 1.3 million for the sewer being saved by sharing it with the developer is not realistic. I just hope they can get a school opened to keep 5th graders from being bused to South Hampton and get rid of some more temporaries.
The latest from the BOE — Red Pump current funding of $2,355,000 “given back”, $10,000,000 of bond money for Red Pump transferred to Campus Hills ES project.
HCPS FY2010 budget ammended to ask for $14,600,000 for Campus Hills ES site.
Update from Monday night’s Board of Education meeting:
http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/04/20/fearing-furloughs-teachers-ask-for-respect-board-moves-money-from-red-pump-to-campus-hills-school/