No Timeline for Air Conditioning Priority List

The school system recently released a priority list for schools not immediately slated for air conditioning, but there's no telling when the projects will be completed.

In fact, even schools currently on the system's radar may be in trouble.

"It's all dependent on if we get funding," said Michael Sines, chief operations officer for Baltimore County Public Schools, following a Wednesday night Board of Education meeting.

If proper funding is received, the slated schools would received air conditioning by the 2015-2016 school, Sines said. The 46 schools on the priority list, which the system primarily ranked by age, will receive short term cooling relief by the 2013-2014 school year.

School officials said at the meeting that the total cost of funding all schools would be between $470 million to $600 million, with elementary schools costing an estimated average of $8 million, middle schools an average of $10-14 million and high schools an average of $20-25 million. The short term fixes would cost between $340,000 to $550,000 for those on the list, with elementary schools averaging an estimated $5,000 to $10,000, middle schools $10,000 to $15,000 and high schools $15,000 to $20,000.

However, officials noted that the priority list may be adjusted on a year to year basis as schools continue to get inspected and needs change.

The Board of Education plans to vote on a resolution advocating for air conditioning funds from the state and county at its Oct. 9 meeting. The motion to approve a formalized statement was made by board member David Uhlfelder, a member at large. 

After the meeting, Lutherville Laboratory Elementary School parents praised Superintendent S. Dance's quick action on addressing the air conditioning issues.

"He genuinely cares about our children," Helen Clark said. "We applaud him and his team."