* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Facility Solutions - Our Children Deserve A Better Plan
FOR the purpose of requesting the Governor-Elect and the Maryland State Board of Education to revise the policy of requiring school closures in return for State funding of capital needs within the Baltimore City Public School System and to support a moratorium on the further closure of schools under Phases 2 and 3 of the locally-adopted Facility Solutions Program.
Body
Recitals
In Fall 2005, the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) undertook its Facility Solutions Program to down-size its "schoolhouse" inventory over a three year period (school years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09).
The State of Maryland, which funds school construction, rehabilitation, new additions and systemic repair projects for public schools in all subdivisions, required that Baltimore City reduce its "schoolhouse" inventory or lose capital funding entirely. In response, the School Board proposed to reduce 2.7 million square feet (amounting to 15% of total inventory) over this 3 year period.
With the closing of 3 schools in year 1, the BCPSS was required to prepare 25 receiving schools within 3 months to accept displaced and relocating students, at a cost of $33 million in local capital funds. In the process, about 4,300 students were displaced and relocated.
We commend the BCPSS for its heroic effort in accommodating year 1 decisions, but this experience has demonstrated the logistical, financial and academic hardships involved.
Our students, families, teachers, and neighborhoods deserve a more planful and less disruptive timeline for continuing this Facility Solutions Program of downsizing space, a timeline which permits out schools to provide a safe, stable and successful learning environment for all its students and which permits our School Board the time to renegotiate the definition of legitimate school functions, for example to include the emerging mandate of community school activities which encourage family involvement in schools by engaging partners in serving the needs of entire school neighborhoods.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body requests the Governor-Elect and the Maryland State Board of Education to revise the State's requirements for the funding of capital needs in the Baltimore City Public School System and to support a moratorium on the further closure of our schools until neighborhood-approved and student appropriate relocation sites can be more planfully provided than is currently the case.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor-Elect, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, the Director and Members of the Maryland State Board of Education, the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, and the Governor-Elect's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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