Harford County Board of Education Agenda Sept. 9: Five-Year School Facilities Maintenance Plan; Youth’s Benefit Elementary Replacement Building

The Harford County Board of Education plans a business meeting on September 9th to review proposed capital projects for next year and approve a five-year maintenance plan for school facilities. Also on the Monday meeting agenda, Board members will award a design contract for a Youth’s Benefit Elementary School replacement building, and approve the installation of signage reflecting the school system’s new logo.

On the consent agenda, signage reflecting the leafy green HCPS logo adopted a year ago will be approved for installation in both the boardroom and reception area at the A.A. Roberty Administration Building in Bel Air. Freedom Federal Credit Union has agreed to pay for the installation and cost of wall signage above the boardroom dais in exchange for the inclusion of a 3” x 3” recognition placard. New signage behind the front desk in the lobby will be designed and built by Harford Technical High School students under the direction of teacher Jimmie Shumate. The new signage will be “budget neutral”, and part of the “phased-in rollout of the new logo and brand identity”, according to published agenda documents.

Below is a mock-up of the planned boardroom signage:

Also on the consent agenda, Board members will award a $553,407 architectural/engineering design services contract to Gilbert Architects, Inc. for a replacement building for Youth’s Benefit Elementary School in Fallston. Funding for this contract will come from a total of $1 million budgeted in the current fiscal year to complete design services for the project, allowing for the development of construction documents. Pricing for construction of the new building will be determined after construction documents are complete.

In other business, Board members will review a list of proposed capital projects totaling $75.6 million to be requested from funding authorities for the 2015 fiscal year. Of the total request, $57.7 million is to be requested from county government; $17.9 million is to be requested from the state. The list of projects, known as the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), was last revised on August 27 and is subject to Board approval and further amendments based on funding levels set by state and county fiscal authorities.

Notably, a replacement building for Havre de Grace High School currently appears in the CIP for planning approval only, although gubernatorial candidate and Harford County Executive David Craig has pushed to expedite the project by also including a request to the state for construction funding. To date, Board members have resisted the move pending the results of an independent analysis of capital needs. In addition, Board members last year delayed a decision on a specific plan for Havre de Grace High after reviewing options ranging from a $49 million limited renovation to a $71 million replacement building. At the time, Board members raised concerns about plans to expand capacity in the new building in light of low enrollment, concerns that have also been raised by state funding authorities. In early December, Board members asked then-Superintendent Robert Tomback to investigate potential alternatives to the above options for Havre de Grace High, including a combined middle and high school, although such plans have yet to be presented.

The complete list of projects in the CIP is linked below. The Board must approve the fiscal year 2015 CIP before it is submitted to the state in October.

In new business, Board members will be asked to approve the school system’s 2013 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan (CMP) for submission to the state. The CMP outlines plans for scheduled inspections, maintenance, repairs and improvements to school buildings, grounds and fixed equipment in each of the next five years. While a schedule is set for long range budgeting purposes, it may not be strictly adhered to subject to “necessity of corrective action”, according to the published plan. Plans are also subject to funding availability. With these caveats in mind, please see the proposed CMP linked below to see when individual schools are in line for improvements such as a boiler or roof replacement, HVAC upgrades or new floor coverings.

As usual, the meeting will conclude with the superintendent’s report, provided by Interim Superintendent Barbara Canavan.

The September 9, 2013 business meeting of the Harford County Board of Education will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the A.A. Roberty Building in Bel Air. The public comment period is set for 6:35 p.m. Below is the published meeting agenda. Please note that published agendas are subject to change.

Agenda
Monday, September 9, 2013
Board Open Session – 5:55 PM – Board Room
Board Closed Session – 6:00 PM – Board Executive Conference Room
Board Business Meeting – 6:30 PM – Board Room
*Times are approximate

6:30 PM
Call to Order – Mrs. Nancy Reynolds, President
Quorum Roll Call
Adoption of Agenda
Pledge of Allegiance
6:35 PM Public Comment
6:50 PM Board Committee Reports and Comments

Old Business
Action Item(s):
7:05 PM A. Consent Agenda:

1) Affirmation of Monthly Contracts (Goal 4)

2) Minutes of Previous Board Meeting: August 12, 2013 (Goals 1 – 4)

3) Freedom Federal Credit Union Sponsorship for Board Room Signage (Goal 2)

4) Contract Award: Architectural and Engineering Services for Youth’s Benefit Elementary School (Goal 4)

Presentation(s):
7:10 PM B. Presentation of FY15 Capital Improvement Program Budget, Proposed Budget Request, Worksheets, Mr. Cornell S. Brown (Goal 4)
New Business
Action Item(s):

7:30 PM C. Decision on 2013 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan, Mr. Cornell S. Brown (Goal 4)
Presentation(s):

7:50 PM D. Superintendent’s Report
Closing

8:00 PM Future Meetings Review
Adjournment