ACLU Report Advocates for Financing a $2.8 Billion Facilities Plan in Baltimore

Last month the ACLU of Maryland Education Reform Project issued a report demonstrating the importance of adequate school facilities and the need for increased funding for the Baltimore City public schools to renovate deficient school buildings. The report calls for city, state, and federal officials to find the resources needed “to improve the substandard physical condition of city school buildings.” The report cited multiple studies and court decisions that have concluded “an adequate education requires safe and healthy schools that support the academic curriculum demanded in the 21st century economy.” In a 2004 report commissioned by the ACLU of Maryland researchers determined five categories of facility deficiencies that have the largest measurable impact on student achievement: human comfort (temperature control), indoor air quality, lighting, acoustical control, and secondary science laboratories.

Baltimores City's school system has created a $2.8 billion facilities master plan for the Baltimore City school district that would address these deficiencies as well as other needs such as building media centers and increasing the number of classrooms to meet student capacity. For fiscal years 2006-2010, however, State funds provided just under $200 million, far from the projected need of $2.8 billion. Although Baltimore City receives funds comparable to those received by other large school districts in the State, their need is much greater because of the prevalence of poverty in their local tax sources. When asked about the costs for bringing schools up to “minimum adequacy” in the short term, Frank Patinella, education advocate and co-author of the report, states, “We don’t have a figure--we’re going for the whole $2.8 billion vision." This, the authors argue, will provide all students with "healthy and well-equipped schools for learning in the 21st century."

One of the funding options that has worked in other states is voting in a 1% sales tax increase to be used specifically for renovations. The ACLU report cites the successful use of this method in 98% of city districts in Georgia, which raised over $91 million in just one year in a single county. Even during the current economic recession, the authors of the report are optimistic about gaining public support for options such as this one. “I think anything is possible, sure,” said Patinella. “We’re presenting a variety of options. Right now we are getting an average of $57 million per year in funding; it’s possible the city can do a lot more using different models. It’s important to start planning to do something bigger and expand on current resources.” Other models the report draws on involve using “innovative finance structures,” that have been proven before in cases in South Carolina and Connecticut, for example. In presenting these cases the Education Reform Project provides workable models for promoting facilities needs.

The Education Reform Project plans to seek support for their proposal from community leaders, students, parents, and local officials. The authors believe this support is critical for convincing the State to put forward the necessary funds. Patinella notes the Baltimore City school system is already on board and, “has been instrumental in putting together this report.” The ACLU is now focusing on “creating a groundswell” of support for the school facilities issue, which they argue has continually been a critically important yet minimized issue in school funding.

“Students and teachers consistently rate facilities at the bottom of their experience at schools. This issue is a priority in their minds,” said Patinella. “Now we’re hoping this report will serve to organize these people in one collective voice with a clear path to take.”

After extensive research the ACLU of Maryland has proposed four recommendations to improve school facilities in Baltimore City. The first calls on district, city, and state leaders to collaborate and design a plan in 2010 to finance the $2.8 billion facilities master plan. Second, the State should designate funds to bring all school buildings in the city up to “minimal adequacy” in the short term. Third, the authors call upon Baltimore City to explore innovative financing options to “expand revenue to support additional borrowing” for school facilities funding. Finally, the ACLU seeks to create a coalition among Baltimore City, state, and federal leaders to advocate for federal programs and policy that will help provide low-wealth districts with the appropriate resources to improve and maintain school facilities.