No decision yet on high school site
2022 opening grows less likely, Martirano says; two choices have been criticized
The head of Howard County’s public school system said last week it is growing increasingly unlikely the county will be able to open a new high school in 2022 because the school board hasn’t picked a site.
At a community meeting, Superintendent Michael Martirano said to achieve an opening less than five years away, the board would have to select a property by March1.
Expediting the opening was proposed last year as a way to avoid the need for a wider redistricting plan to relieve overcrowding in eastern county schools.
Two properties — privately held land along Mission Road in Jessup and the county-owned Troy Hill Park in Elkridge — are under consideration, though residents have objected to both.
The 77-acre Mission Road property is near an active quarry, which has raised safety and environmental concerns. Some residents don’t want parkland carved up for a school.
County Council members, County Executive Allan H. Kittleman, Martirano and several other officials have met with residents in an attempt to quell concerns about the process to choose a site for the1,600-seat, $124 million school.
Director of school construction Scott Washington has told the school board and council earlier thaat a five-year timeline is needed to build a school.
Officials explained the four key steps to choose a site: a study to determine where in the county any additional buildings are needed, a search for potential sites, a closed school board session to discuss the land acquisition and a public hearing to gather input.
The board held a public hearing on Mission Road in October 2016; if it chooses to move forward with Troy Hill Park, a public hearing must be held.
Critics of the Troy Hill Park option are skeptical of its potential, in part because a development plan includes about five acres held by private owners.
Bruce Gist, the school system’s executive director of capital planning and operations, said his team had created a plan that did not include the private property.
However, Department of Recreation and Parks director John Byrd said his department’s plan relied on purchasing the property.
Byrd said after the meeting that his department had spoken with the property owners about selling their land to the county and want to keep an open dialogue, but that so far they have not been open to selling their land.
“They don’t like the idea of their property being used as a pawn,” Byrd said.
Some Mission Road site supporters said it appeared the decision had been made to use the site at Troy Hill Park. Jessup resident Lori Hall said officials only brought site plans for Troy Hill to the meeting.
Elkridge resident Diana Berry said she was “hopeful” that the board would choose their preferred site.
Martirano said at the end of the meeting that he wanted the county to acquire both sites for future school projects, as the county would have needs for Mission Road even if it did not include a high school.
No school board members spoke at the meeting; neither did Kittleman. Kittleman said after the meeting that while he was not a decision-maker in the location choice, he still believed a 2022 completion date was possible. kmagill@baltsun.com
At a community meeting, Superintendent Michael Martirano said to achieve an opening less than five years away, the board would have to select a property by March1.
Expediting the opening was proposed last year as a way to avoid the need for a wider redistricting plan to relieve overcrowding in eastern county schools.
Two properties — privately held land along Mission Road in Jessup and the county-owned Troy Hill Park in Elkridge — are under consideration, though residents have objected to both.
The 77-acre Mission Road property is near an active quarry, which has raised safety and environmental concerns. Some residents don’t want parkland carved up for a school.
County Council members, County Executive Allan H. Kittleman, Martirano and several other officials have met with residents in an attempt to quell concerns about the process to choose a site for the1,600-seat, $124 million school.
Director of school construction Scott Washington has told the school board and council earlier thaat a five-year timeline is needed to build a school.
Officials explained the four key steps to choose a site: a study to determine where in the county any additional buildings are needed, a search for potential sites, a closed school board session to discuss the land acquisition and a public hearing to gather input.
The board held a public hearing on Mission Road in October 2016; if it chooses to move forward with Troy Hill Park, a public hearing must be held.
Critics of the Troy Hill Park option are skeptical of its potential, in part because a development plan includes about five acres held by private owners.
Bruce Gist, the school system’s executive director of capital planning and operations, said his team had created a plan that did not include the private property.
However, Department of Recreation and Parks director John Byrd said his department’s plan relied on purchasing the property.
Byrd said after the meeting that his department had spoken with the property owners about selling their land to the county and want to keep an open dialogue, but that so far they have not been open to selling their land.
“They don’t like the idea of their property being used as a pawn,” Byrd said.
Some Mission Road site supporters said it appeared the decision had been made to use the site at Troy Hill Park. Jessup resident Lori Hall said officials only brought site plans for Troy Hill to the meeting.
Elkridge resident Diana Berry said she was “hopeful” that the board would choose their preferred site.
Martirano said at the end of the meeting that he wanted the county to acquire both sites for future school projects, as the county would have needs for Mission Road even if it did not include a high school.
No school board members spoke at the meeting; neither did Kittleman. Kittleman said after the meeting that while he was not a decision-maker in the location choice, he still believed a 2022 completion date was possible. kmagill@baltsun.com
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