HCPSSSuperintendent Presents FY24 Capital Budget Proposal
September 9th, 2022
Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael J. Martirano, Ed.D. presented his Proposed Capital Budget for fiscal year 2024 (FY 2024), FY 2025–2029 Capital Improvement Program, and FY 2024–2033 Long-Range Master Plan to the Howard County Board of Education on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
“This Capital Budget provides funding to maintain or build facilities that allow for consistent delivery of high-quality instructional programming in every school where every student is nurtured and fully supported in their learning and growth,” stated Martirano. “As with all of my recommendations to the Board, this recommendation is objective, data-driven and grounded in the funding realities of the next several years.”
The proposed $76.4 million Capital Budget, $458.7 million Capital Improvement Program and $923.3 million Long-Range Master Plan continue the work of the school system’s 2022 Feasibility Study and Comprehensive Maintenance Plan toward fulfilling the school system’s capital and maintenance needs in conjunction with the HCPSS Strategic Call to Action. The Capital Budget proposal considers projected student capacity and existing facility needs in order to relieve overcrowded schools and support rapid enrollment growth, which is projected to add approximately 3,100 additional students by 2032.
The proposal adds improvements and capacity where they are most urgently needed to relieve crowded schools and ensure the equitable allocation of instructional resources.
Major items included in the FY 2024 proposed budget include funding for:
- The completion of New High School #13, scheduled to open in September 2023;
- Planning for renovations/additions to Oakland Mills Middle School and Dunloggin Middle School, both slated to open in September 2027;
- Renovations to the Faulkner Ridge Center;
- New Elementary School #43, slated to open in September 2026;
- Systemic renovations of boilers and other equipment; and
- Planning and design to address system needs such as special education centers and classrooms.
The proposed Capital Improvement Program includes continued funding for the renovation and addition at Oakland Mills Middle School and construction of the New Elementary School #43; funding for a Regional Early Childhood Center; renovations and additions at Patapsco Middle School, Murray Hill Middle School and Centennial High School; and systemic and ongoing projects.
The proposed Long-Range Master Plan includes funding to provide for approximately 4,500 additional K–12 seats, additional capacity for prekindergarten, modernization and programmatic renovations to existing school facilities and renovations to address systemic needs.
The Board has scheduled a public hearing and work session on the FY 2024 Capital Budget and FY 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program during its September 22, 2022, 7 p.m. meeting.
The Board’s Proposed Capital Budget will then be submitted to the Howard County Planning Board and County Council for consideration. Next, the Priority Listing of FY 2024 State Capital Budget Request is submitted to the Maryland Interagency Commission on School Construction. On February 16, 2023, the Board will adopt its budget request, which will then be submitted to the County Executive. In May 2023, the County Council will adopt the Howard County Capital Budget, and the Board will adopt the final Capital Budget.
The full Superintendent’s Proposed Capital Budget is posted online.