The fate of constructing
East County High as scheduled hangs in the balance right now.
The Frederick Board of
However, this arrangement no
longer seems to work in the county’s favor, as the state has decided not to pay
back $4 million that was most recently forward funded leaving the county to
deal with a significant and unexpected loss of revenue.
A mechanism no longer exists
that would allow the county to build needed schools in an expedited
manner. We are at the mercy of the state
as to whether or not they will grant planning approval for new
construction. Last year, the state
denied all requests for new school construction money for the entire state of
What does this mean for us?
Our community and the entire
Linganore High feeder pattern will seriously suffer if the state continues
their trend of decreasing school construction money in
Please consider the following facts:
§
There are
currently 847 approved building permits (Land Stewards, Westwinds,
Brinkley Manor) in the Linganore High feeder pattern
area with another 140 pending approval (Orchard). This does not include the proposed
development across from Deer Crossing which does not have approval at this
time.
§
There are
currently 12 portables in use at Linganore High and the school is at 120%
capacity.
§
ECH is slated to
be ready for use in 2008. Linganore
High’s enrollment projections show they will be at 130% capacity at that time.
§
Linganore High
is in desperate need of a comprehensive renovation which cannot occur while
students are using the building. LHS
students will need to be placed elsewhere, and if ECH is not available to house
students, the renovation project will not be able to occur as hoped.
§
If school
construction does not keep pace with growth, there will not only be a critical
student population problem at the high school level, but the elementary and
middle school levels as well.
Projected Enrollment Figures Through
07/08
|
Student Enrollment Increase/Decrease Year to Year |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
Change |
Change |
Change |
Change |
|
|
From |
From |
From |
From |
From |
|
School
Level |
03 -
'04 |
04 -
'05 |
05 -
'06 |
06 -
'07 |
07 -
'08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High |
78 |
12 |
38 |
3 |
-10 |
|
Middle |
-34 |
-12 |
19 |
15 |
25 |
|
Elementary |
-9 |
53 |
140 |
165 |
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approved/Pending Permits in the Linganore Feeder
Pattern |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approved |
Approved |
Permits |
|
|
|
|
Permits
for |
Permits
for |
Waiting
for |
|
|
|
|
SFU |
TH/
Condo |
Approval |
|
|
|
Land
Stewards |
486 |
|
|
|
|
|
Westwinds |
45 |
77 |
40 |
|
|
|
Brinkley
Manor |
225 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
Orchard |
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Units |
756 |
91 |
140 |
|
|
So what can we do to help make East County High a
reality as planned for 2008?
E-mails speak volumes in
letting our leaders know both on the county and state levels that residents in
this region expect school construction funds to be fully allocated in a timely
manner so we have adequate school facilities to house our students. Please contact county and state leaders
concerning the status of ECH so we do not lose this window of opportunity to
influence decisions being made in our behalf.
If we do not take the time to get involved and lobby for this
desperately needed school now, the quality of education provided for our
children and property values in this region will be severely negatively
impacted. Please take a few minutes to
make a difference today.
Click
here to email all our state and county officials regarding the status of ECH.
Governor Ehrlich governor@gov.state.md.us
Comptroller William Donald
Schaefer wdschaefer@comp.state.md.us
Treasurer Nancy Kopp nkopp@treasurer.state.md.us
Senator David Brinkley david_brinkley@senate.state.md.us
Delegate Joseph Bartlett joseph_bartlett@house.state.md.us
Delegate Paul Stull paul_stull@house.state.md.us
Board of