Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski is inviting Gov. Larry Hogan to tour the county high school rated lowest for its physical plant — part of an effort to illustrate the need for more school construction funding from the state.

In a letter to the governer, Olszewski invited the governor to “visit Lansdowne High School with me, so you can see firsthand Baltimore County’s need for more state investments in school construction.”

The letter indicates the Republican governor and the Democratic county executive have discussed the visit, and that Olszewski’s staff will coordinate the tour of the southwest Baltimore County school.

T.J. Smith, Olszewski’s press secretary, said in an email that staff from each office are working to schedule a date.

Lansdowne High School was rated the lowest of any county high school in a 2014 facilities assessment report, and community advocates have called for the school to be replaced or substantially improved. Issues at the school include no air conditioning, structural settlement, water damage and poor circulation.

In January, there were at least two electrical issues at the school: a malfunctioning motor on an air handling unit and an electrical outlet that had to be replaced after a phone charger caught fire.

Lisa Mack, who represents the Lansdowne area on the county Board of Education, said Monday she’s asked school system staff to “facilitate an inspection of Lansdowne's electrical system to ensure that students and faculty are safe.”

During his campaign, Olszewski said he supported constructing a new Lansdowne High School. Other backers of the idea include Mack, County Councilman Tom Quirk, who also represents the area, and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot.

A report on high school capacity, conducted by Sage Policy Group, also recommended constructing a new Lansdowne High, both to help with a growing student population and because of the deteriorating conditions of the building.

Lansdowne High is one of several projects that the county school system is advocating for at the same time the county faces tight finances. Last month Olszewski, who won election as executive in November, appointed a seven-member group to study the county’s budget, increase transparency in the budget process and make recommendations for financial sustainability amid the county’s fiscal outlook.

In his letter to Hogan, Olszewski said his “sole legislative priority” for 2019 is to get the state to commit to spending $100 million in each of the next five years for school construction in Baltimore County.

Without those state funds, the county’s plans to replace Lansdowne, Dulaney and Towson high schools could be delayed.

County officials say new high schools generally cost between $100 million and $150 million.

cboteler@baltsun.com