3 New School Buildings Included In Budget Advancing In Anne Arundel County

MILLERSVILLE, MD - The push to build three new school buildings in Anne Arundel County took a step forward Wednesday.

The county's Board of Education advanced a $234.5 million capital budget request that includes nearly $167 million for the new facilities in the Millersville area. There are still several hurdles to clear before the budget is finalized, however.

If fully approved, Anne Arundel County Public Schools would construct replacement buildings for the Center of Applied Technology–North, Old Mill High School and Old Mill Middle School North. 

A July update said CAT-North is expected to open in fall 2026, Old Mill Middle School North is scheduled to finish in fall 2027 and Old Mill High School is on pace for fall 2028.

This is the final phase of the revamping of the Old Mill High School feeder system, which many say is overcrowded and outdated.

AACPS just replaced Rippling Woods Elementary in Glen Burnie and Quarterfield Elementary in Severn. Those facilities opened last month. Hillsmere Elementary in Annapolis also opened last month, but that's in a different high school feeder system. The brand-new West County Elementary should open next fall in Odenton.

Related: 3 New School Buildings Open In Anne Arundel County

AACPS is already building a replacement for Old Mill Middle School South. Construction is also underway on Old Mill West High School, which is a brand-new school and not a replacement building. Both are expected to be ready for next school year in fall 2024, the update said.

The new CAT-North building, which houses trade school programs, is slated to be constructed on the same site as the new Old Mill High School facility in Millersville.

The new Old Mill Middle School North building would be situated on the current CAT-North site in Severn.

Countywide, this recently advanced budget also includes:

• $32.3 million for building systems renovations
• $7 million to continue to reduce the maintenance backlog
• $1.3 million to design a new school bus facility and lot
• $4 million for roof replacement projects
• $4 million additions to existing buildings
• $3.5 million for athletic stadium improvements
• $2 million for security-related upgrades

The Board of Education did not make any changes to the capital budget recommended by Superintendent Mark Bedell earlier this month.

The capital budget request now goes to the state for funding consideration. 

It will also be part of AACPS's budget request for fiscal year 2025, which covers July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

This budget request must be forwarded to Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman in February 2024 after additional school board hearings.

The County Council will review that plan and vote on its final approval by June 2024.

Related: School Redistricting Proposal Moves Forward, Officials Seek Feedback In Anne Arundel

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