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http://www.gazette.net/stories/020906/newmnew183408_31904.shtml
A planned expansion of the Maryland School for the Deaf’s Frederick campus will stay on schedule, thanks to a $24.6 million commitment by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
In his recent unveiling of a $1.45 billion capital budget, Ehrlich (R) included the funds to provide the school with a new elementary school building and a family education⁄early intervention center. Construction of both buildings is scheduled to begin in January and be complete by November 2008.
The school’s superintendent, James E. Tucker, said he is delighted with the governor’s allocation. ‘‘Maryland School for the Deaf is in its 138th school year, and we have a rich and proud tradition in educating deaf and hard of hearing students from all across Maryland,” he said. ‘‘I believe the governor recognizes our past successes and is investing in our future.”
Henry Fawell, a press officer for the governor, said with the state’s budget surplus, estimated at $1 billion, there was more flexibility to fund projects like the School for the Deaf.
‘‘This was the right time to provide funding based on the need for families,” he said. ‘‘This project also fell within the larger goal of empowering individuals with disabilities to reach their personal and professional goals.”
Last year, Ehrlich provided $1.9 million in his capital budget for design work for the new buildings.
Fawell noted that several representatives from Frederick County pressed for funding the renovation project, including state Sen. Alex X. Mooney (R-Dist. 3).
Mooney said he has visited the school several times and noticed it is in ‘‘desperate need of renovations,” as the school is ‘‘stuffing kids into classrooms that are old and falling apart. ‘‘These renovations are needed much worse than the public school system, which has built several new buildings,” he said. ‘‘They have nice new buildings and the Maryland School for the Deaf didn’t have that. It’s overdue.”
In another move to assist the school, Mooney has submitted a bill in the Senate to help its driver education program. The bill, which was introduced on Feb. 2, allows automobile dealers to loan cars to educational institutions like the School for the Deaf for an indefinite period of time. Currently, the Motor Vehicle Administration prohibits such practices.
‘‘The bill is a small thing, but small things make quite a difference in quality of life,” Mooney said.
New facilities
Family education⁄earlyintervention building:
16,274-square feet
programs for infants and toddlers working on early language acquisition and communication
Elementary school building
47,900-square feet; replaces facility built in 1960
accomodates 40 faculty and staff and up to 126 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
includes media center, gym, classroom and cafeteria with stage
Attached to a 11,995 square-foot student support services facility for communication, counseling and infirmary
A planned expansion of the Maryland School for the Deaf’s Frederick campus will stay on schedule, thanks to a $24.6 million commitment by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
In his recent unveiling of a $1.45 billion capital budget, Ehrlich (R) included the funds to provide the school with a new elementary school building and a family education⁄early intervention center. Construction of both buildings is scheduled to begin in January and be complete by November 2008.
The school’s superintendent, James E. Tucker, said he is delighted with the governor’s allocation. ‘‘Maryland School for the Deaf is in its 138th school year, and we have a rich and proud tradition in educating deaf and hard of hearing students from all across Maryland,” he said. ‘‘I believe the governor recognizes our past successes and is investing in our future.”
Henry Fawell, a press officer for the governor, said with the state’s budget surplus, estimated at $1 billion, there was more flexibility to fund projects like the School for the Deaf.
‘‘This was the right time to provide funding based on the need for families,” he said. ‘‘This project also fell within the larger goal of empowering individuals with disabilities to reach their personal and professional goals.”
Last year, Ehrlich provided $1.9 million in his capital budget for design work for the new buildings.
Fawell noted that several representatives from Frederick County pressed for funding the renovation project, including state Sen. Alex X. Mooney (R-Dist. 3).
Mooney said he has visited the school several times and noticed it is in ‘‘desperate need of renovations,” as the school is ‘‘stuffing kids into classrooms that are old and falling apart. ‘‘These renovations are needed much worse than the public school system, which has built several new buildings,” he said. ‘‘They have nice new buildings and the Maryland School for the Deaf didn’t have that. It’s overdue.”
In another move to assist the school, Mooney has submitted a bill in the Senate to help its driver education program. The bill, which was introduced on Feb. 2, allows automobile dealers to loan cars to educational institutions like the School for the Deaf for an indefinite period of time. Currently, the Motor Vehicle Administration prohibits such practices.
‘‘The bill is a small thing, but small things make quite a difference in quality of life,” Mooney said.
New facilities
Family education⁄earlyintervention building:
16,274-square feet
programs for infants and toddlers working on early language acquisition and communication
Elementary school building
47,900-square feet; replaces facility built in 1960
accomodates 40 faculty and staff and up to 126 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
includes media center, gym, classroom and cafeteria with stage
Attached to a 11,995 square-foot student support services facility for communication, counseling and infirmary
