Heated Exchange Punctuates Hairston's Last 'Beg-a-thon' Appearance
Comptroller Peter Franchot tells the Baltimore County Public Schools superintendent that he's "tired of saying pretty please" on air conditioning.
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Baltimore County schools Superintendent Joe Hairston's final appearance before the Board of Public Works ended in a heated exchange about air conditioning.
Hairston, who is in the final months of his 12-year career with the schools system, found himself on the bad side of Comptroller Peter Franchot as he asked for $70 million in state money.
Franchot launched into a five minute monologue about the lack of air conditioning in Baltimore County schools.
"I'm kind of tired of saying 'pretty please.' I really am," Franchot said.
Franchot specifically highlighted conditions at Middleborough Elementary School in Essex. Parents from the school attended Wednesday's meeting as they did in October when county officials asked for $7 million in school renovation money.
"For reasons that still mystify me it's still one of the 93 schools that lack air conditioning," Franchot said.
"In spite of these deporable and unsafe learning conditions, the county submited a $7 million capital funding request that didn't include a single dime for air conditioning for Middleborough or any other school," said Franchot, adding later that school system figures were unreliable.
"It was 94 (schools), now all of a sudden miracle of miracles there are only 66," Franchot said. "I don't know how anybody can have confidence in your figures."
In December, parents from Middleborough offered to buy window units for the school's classrooms. The school system rejected the idea, citing, in part, safety concerns.
"As if triple digit temperatures aren't safe," said Franchot, adding that students would be forced to endure continued high temperatures. "I guess because of an idiotic safety policy developed in the bowels of the bureaucracy."
"It's not legally a crime but morally it's completely unacceptable," said Franchot, speaking of the lack of air conditioning at Middleborough Elementary.
But the comptroller called himself an optimist and said he had hope "that someone's going to relent on this irrational and frankly callous unwillingness to provide relief for Baltimore County children."
Hairston said nothing for most of Franchot's comments.
"Thank you, mister comptroller for those encouraging words and I'm here on this afternoon to speak to the 20 projects on this list," responded Hairston, who will retire on June 30 after 12 years at the helm of the county school system.
Hairston and county officials are seeking a total of $70 million in total funding for school construction and renovation projects for the budget year that begins on July 1.
Gov. Martin O'Malley said earlier this month he hopes to provide more than $370 million into school construction funding in the next budget year.
Baltimore County has already been awarded $23 million for the budget year that begins July 1. Last year, the county received a total of $32 million.
The county estimates it would cost as much as $450 million to install central air conditioning in all its schools that currently do not have it.
Don Mohler, a county spokesman and chief of staff to County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, said in an interview early Wednesday that the county is working to install air conditioning in schools as part of the renovation process.
The county hopes to add units to four schools—including the new Dundalk and Sollers Point High Schools—this year.
"That's in addition to the 10 we did last year," Mohler said.
"That means there's 14 more schools with air conditioning than when this county executive was elected. That's really significant. This is an important issue and we have to address it in a responsible way."
Meanwhile, Franchot plans tomorrow to announce a petition drive called "Cool Classrooms" aimed at forcing the county's hand.
As part of the effort, Franchot is rolling out a new section of his website to collect electronic signatures. The logo for the Cool Classrooms campaign includes a silhouette of Baltimore County.
"This is a new effort the comptroller is undertaking to bring the people to the bureaucrats in Baltimore County," said Joseph Shapiro, a spokesman for Franchot.
The comptroller encouraged the parents from Middleborough "to carry the fight forward."
"Believe me, they're weaker than you think," Franchot told the parents. "You're in the right and pretty soon we're going to have air conditioning in all the schools in Baltimore County."
David Taylor
7:51 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Was there no mention of the critical overcrowding issues in the county?
I hear that one of the grades at West Towson Elementary School is being moved out of the school next year to make room since they have nowhere to install "temporary" trailers like they have at the other schools in the area. That school isn't even 2 years old yet!
This problem won't go away, and it'll continue to get worse based on county projections and the apparent lack of action so far... let's hope the next superintendent plans a bit better and that the county and state can agree to get this done in a timely manner.
Bryan P. Sears
8:28 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
There was, David. The superintendent talked about the need for school construction money to build a new elementary school in the York Road Corridor near Lutherville-Timonium.
Mypointofview
8:17 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
With the number of non air conditioned schools seemingly unable to be confirmed by BCPS we will use the stated numbers in the above article.
$450 million to air condition 94 schools = $ 4,787,234. per school.
Now that is a contract that would get some healthy bidding.
Are we to assume a need for special customized units that require this kind of cost ?
Who is responsible for these "estimates" ?
Baltimore County Parent
1:22 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Excellent point! Michael Sines, Director of BCPS Physical Facilities, is responsible for these grossly overinflated estimates. BCPS has no incentive to provide accurate numbers because they are hoping the other schools will give up and go away. But they will have to deal with Middleborough now that Franchot has gotten involved....
Penny Riordan
9:35 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Hi David, I wrote about the long-term enrollment projections, which came up at last night's Board of Education meeting. You can read the article here: http://catonsville.patch.com/articles/live-baltimore-county-board-of-education-meeting. The enrollment projections for West Towson are available on the school system's website and through a link in the above article.
Calm down
9:36 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Franc hot is a grandstanding lightweight. The state is shifting teacher pension costs to the county and he says the county should raise taxes to pay for air conditioning. Stay out of our county!
K Blue
10:18 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I dont think he is grandstanding. I think he is bringing his considerable weight as a member of the Board of Public Works to an issue that flown under the radar for far too long due to lack of visibility. The shifting of the teacher pension costs is going to hurt this County for sure (and appears inevitable), but I dont see anywhere that he is saying that the County should raise taxes. How much would window units cost at the school with inoperable windows and other limitations that produce record-high temperatures? I suspect that the budget could be tweaked even further to find those dollars or alternative funding sources located.
EarlyBird
10:00 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
"Calmdown?" Good to see a member of Kamenetz' staff working overtime tonight. Whoever this is, I bet HE has air conditioning in HIS office!
K Blue
10:12 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
"In December, parents from Middleborough offered to buy window units for the school's classrooms. The school system rejected the idea, citing, in part, safety concerns."
I would like to see the written basis for their rejection, if one exists.
Bryan P. Sears
10:17 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I have a copy of a letter to the Middleborough parents with the explanation. Check back tomorrow on my Insider Politics blog around 6 a.m.
Dkennylee
1:27 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
@ mypointofview....you nailed it. The problem with the numbers here. There is no way in h... That it cost that much to add ac to a school ...parents should chip in hire a havac person to give a quote on the price and get it in the paper fox news ..to show how much money is wasted in schools .then buy the ac window or portable units and use them anyway ..who is gonna tell??? Just get the units the teachers will love it there not saying anything..;)
Paul Amirault
1:41 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Just askin', but why is air conditioning needed in schools today when that same school did not have air conditioning before when us older folks went to school? Is it hotter today, don't want to go there? Too many school days in late August than before, if so why? We are talking about spending a lot of money for a few weeks of school. What ever happened to fans and windows?
DCMerkle
2:13 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Let's see. In answer to your questions. That same school that you went to years ago didn't have one third of the electronic equipment that the schools of today have. Heat is generated from that equipment. Yes, it is hotter today than it was when you went to school, but that would be a lesson in weather and the hothouse effect. Schools are opening earlier and closing later in the year depending on how many days were used up in the winter. If the window units were turned down, would fans be allowed...maybe, maybe not and last but not least....schools that were built when you and I went to school had windows that opened. Those same windows in schools that are older than dirt are now either bricked in, rusted shut, boarded up or are not allowed to be opened. Schools that have been built after that were just built with windows that were permanently shut.
Was that a better perspective?
Tim
10:59 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Paul: because it's not 1950 anymore. Welcome to the future.
I know, you walked uphill both ways to school in the winter, too
Kristin Powell Strong
3:25 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I taught at a non-AC school when I was pregnant with my daughter. She was due in late May/early June. I had to go out on maternity leave 2 weeks before I'd planned to do so because of the heat in my classroom, and yes, I had 2 fans propped in the open windows all day long. It was so hot in there that I had to shower in the morning before coming to work and shower again when I got home, after feeling sweat trickle down my back for 7 hours. So my students lost 2 weeks of instructional time with a certified teacher, and the county paid me AND a long-term sub.
My daughter started sixth grade at Dumbarton Middle School this fall. We attended student orientation and, because students sat in their seats, parents lined the walls and I chose a seat on the windowsill. Sitting there, feeling the familiar sweat trickle, I thought, "Hope these nice folks don't need any volunteers til November -- 'cause that's when I'll be back." I grew up in AC-free schools. I do not remember it being as oppressively hot then as it is now. And I am not a wimp or opposed to sweating on principle.
And overcrowding does contribute to this, as a room full of 35 kids is way hotter than a room holding only 25.
I know this probably unrealistic, but if Baltimore County would put a bond issue on the ballot dedicated to air-conditioning public schools, there's not a parent in the county who wouldn't vote for it.
Dkennylee
2:46 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I agree with above, they make portable non window ac units, and who cares if you are aloud to or not parents lets buy them walk.in with our student ..taking off work and set them up and sit in the class , then teacher wont get fired and they have ac,..simple my gradmother would have had no problem doing this shes 80 now and would still do it, buy pass goverment and lets take care of each other
KG
6:50 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I have no evidence to support this ...but I thought I remember reading a while back that part of the problem with window and portable units is the huge bill for electricity they would generate. The bills would wipe out operating budgets.
Cindy H
12:00 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I imagine not only the bill would be an issue, but also the demand on power if every classroom had a unit added.
Scott Sewell
7:28 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Hairston & his exuberant salary have been a colossal mistake and disappointment for Baltimore County.
John L.
8:22 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Not reliable? I agree. With a lame duck Super and a 'new' County Executive nothing coming from he County nothing is reliable. They seem to play games with you like promise one thing and take another away or ignore you anyway. Politics as usual in the County - nothing ever seems to change. Sigh!!!!!
Dkennylee
9:13 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Kg it would take a whole lot of years to get the bogus 1.9 mill to have central air plus it coat money to repair clean havac guys cost alot so really the window idea would be fine ...but I cant syress enough 1.9 mill is crap ...
Buck Harmon
10:41 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Have any steps already been taken that would increase efficiency in schools that need AC?
Tim
11:04 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I agree with DkennyLee.
I can all but guarantee they would have more success getting donations from parents of kids (as if, bringing in air conditioning units) then by raising funds through government means.
Safety a concern? Simple solution: Specify what models folks can donate.
People don't trust government with spending money. However, if you tell folks they could chip in and buy, locally, a 400 dollar AC unit that'd go right into their kids classroom, you know folks would do it. Once purchased, the units become property of the school, no questions asked. Not only are you doing your children a favor, you are doing future children the same.
These are our kids, for crying out loud. It's disappointing to hear people arguing against this. Not surprising, but disappointing nonetheless.
Tim
11:05 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Heck, I'd donate some money for a school my kid DOESN'T go to, if it were implemented like this.
Dkennylee
3:13 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
its just crazy to think that there is a saftey problem with new units... what is the problem.. if they are new then it should be fine..and the electric is not goinng to be to bad because they dont need to run them all summer all day and night... Also even if the electric needed to be upgraded 1.9 mill for a small school is bull@#$% and Tim is right I would pitch in fro window units myself ... and astro turf and electric score boards !!!! but no a/c what!!? Also some of these schools they tear down could have been restored .... Its a school not a shopping mall ...I dont think these kids care what color the marble floors are n the bath room... I think they would rather have a/c and softer seats to sit in....and better teaching items..books, scales,computers ect..... Then some fancy looking new school ..sussex elem..... still standing as it was is 1971 when i went there with no!! changes stop wasting money ..ok I done ranting now ...
DCMerkle
9:37 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Tim,
I'm not arguing against this. I think your idea is one that should be run with, but if the AC's become property of the schools, who would be responsible for the repairs or would the AC's just be left to sit? Just saying. It would be these little things that would need to be addressed so it can't jump on.
Alan
1:27 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Grandstanding? Walk your 7 year-old little girl up the sidewalk and lead her into a 1st grade classroom that was already 94 degrees at 7:30 am (classroom temperature, not outside temperature) as I did last spring...then tell me about grandstanding.
Mari
9:54 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Is part of the cost given by the county for retrofitting the electrical wiring to accomodate the power requirements for central AC? Does anyone know?
DCMerkle
9:31 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Mari,
If they retrofitted the schools for things like computers, with no problem with the money that it cost then, which they say was to the educational benefit of children, I bet that they can't justify the retrofitting of the AC's because they see it as something that has no educational benefit to the children. Now ask the administration how they justify bringing in their portable, mini, stereo consoles to listen to in their offices using that same electricty?
DARRELL HAMMERBACKER
2:00 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Franchot is right,I hate to say,about County Regulations on Installing A/C Units. Regulations are put in for a reason . One is to get more money in the County Pocket Book to help pay for the County Regulators positions.Maybe if they redirect all this Solar and Wind Energy to Schools the cost would be cut by 10% thus help freeup money for the schools that need the new Units.I think 20 WindMills in Lynch Cove could power our Elementry School
mike gardiner
10:23 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I have an idea on how to build more new schools and include air conditioning in all the schools. We could also pay teachers more and reduce class sizes. PAY TUITION and stop using so much of my tax dollars for schools.
Dkennylee
12:31 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
How is a kid that has popr parents gonna do that? THE answer is they cant, So more of your taxes will go to welfare for the kid that cant get a job, because he could not go to school. now that sounds like a great
idea ....NOT
Dkennylee
12:32 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
" poor parents "
Jimmy
12:13 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
I'm all for getting AC in all the county schools. Just an observation, I think the safety issue is not having enough electric service in the schools. They have already maxed out the service with the addition of all the computers and ELMO's and copy machines, etc. It would cost less if they installed the central AC nad the associated electric for it than to run more electric to each classroom to accomodate the window units.