Updates From Galen Clagett

State to Fund Frederick High Feasibility Study - Frederick News Post - February 9, 2012

The state agreed Wednesday to channel more than $230,000 of funding to kick-start the revamping of Frederick High School.

The money was part of a $750,000 funding package approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works to support school construction in the state's western counties. The aid will help officials pay for a study of the best way to modernize Frederick High School, which opened in 1939 and is in need of an update, Delegate Galen Clagett said.

"It's like an English muffin. It's full of nooks and crannies," Clagett said of the school.

Frederick County Public Schools staff expects to have an architect in place by the spring to conduct the study, according to Ray Barnes, executive director of facilities services.

"We're ready to move forward," he said.

Barnes said this was one of several project funding requests put forth by Frederick County, but it was the top priority.

These funds help keep the new Frederick High School to open for the 2017-18 school year, he said.

Clagett said he's been working on attracting the state money -- which came from the sales and use tax on alcohol -- to the project since just after the close of session last year. He said he wasn't confident the public works board would approve funding. In fact, supporting documents for the meeting indicate that the state public school construction program felt the money for the study was a "local obligation."

But Clagett said he was glad to see the board ended up giving the Frederick project a nod.

"I believe that all five of the school districts that are represented in this request have a well-deserved reputation for sound fiscal management and a commitment to effective school maintenance," Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said during the public works meeting.

Projects in Allegany, Carroll, Garrett and Washington counties also received funding from the board Wednesday. The Maryland General Assembly directed the board to consider projects that, among other things, benefit older school buildings, eliminate use of portable classrooms or reduce energy consumption.

Superintendent Terry Alban said this is exciting news, especially with the county commissioners trying to move up school construction projects in the Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) budget.

"I'm delighted," she said.