$19 Million for Hampton Elementary

Hampton Elementary School is on track to receive $19 million to expand its overcrowded Lutherville building by 300 seats, officials said today. 

Towson Families United and Hampton's PTA had been worried that the project was not moving forward, but county officials assured them this week that it is on schedule. In addition, advocates learned that the county was earmarking $19 million – not the $12 million that was assumed – for both a new addition and a renovation of the existing building.

"That's good news," said Cathi Forbes, a founding member of Towson Families United, which spearheaded the effort to build the new, $22 million West Towson Elementary School. That facility opened this week. 

Forbes and Yara Cheikh, vice president of legislation and parent education for the Hampton Elementary PTA had begun to worry last week  when construction did not start before the first day of school on Monday. Instead, Hampton added trailers to accommodate the more than 500 students who enrolled for a building with an official capacity of 307. 

County school officials had initially said a lack of state funds was delaying the project. But Forbes provided information this week that showed the state needed Baltimore County to commit its share first. 

The county, however, can not commit money to the project until after voters decide on a $104 million bond issue for school construction that will be on the November ballot, an outcome that county officials say is practically guaranteed based on past voter support for school construction bonds.

If voters pass the referendum question, construction for Hampton Elementary's $19 million project would be expected to begin next summer and be completed for the 2012 school year, said Donald Mohler, spokesman for County Executive James T. Smith Jr.     

"We always knew that funds for Hampton were going to be in the referendum," Mohler said. "Everything is still on target."