Kach: State should pay for new Towson and Dulaney high schools

There are certainly some disappointing developments concerning Towson and Dulaney high schools (“Baltimore County executive embraces plan that would renovate but not replace Towson and Dulaney high schools,” Dec. 6). The condition of the buildings and the age of the facilities speak for themselves, and the communities that send their children to these schools remain unified in their efforts to have both schools replaced with new buildings.

The cost of renovations for Dulaney and Towson will be high. I am convinced that, with the age and condition of these buildings, this will be throwing good money after bad. Both facilities have been toured by many elected officials, and most, if not all, agree that they need replacement. I

am more determined than ever to replacing the Dulaney and Towson buildings. In my opinion, this is the most responsible course of action.

Over 10 years ago, Baltimore requested and received $1.1 billion of additional funding from the state to assist in its efforts to renovate and replace what was at the time the oldest inventory of substandard school buildings in Maryland. At that time, Baltimore County’s inventory was the second oldest in the state, yet Baltimore County received no additional funding.

Today, the state is financially in very good shape. During the upcoming legislative session in Annapolis, I plan to join with local elected leadership and County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. in asking Gov. Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot for more money from the state to help to make these long-needed projects possible. To this end, I urge all interested members in the Dulaney and Towson communities to contact their state elected legislators and the governor to this end to ask them to include this needed construction funding in next year’s budget when the Maryland General Assembly convenes in January 2022.

The writer, a Republican, represents District 3 on the Baltimore County Council.