Don't Let Severna Park High School Lag Further Behind

As community members we recognize the importance of investing in high school education. We also recognize the impact that a building can have on the curriculum and education experience. This building will have the poorest quality score (by independent reviewers) of any school facility in Anne Arundel County that isn't under construction in FY13. It has a score of 62. Other school facilities' quality scores range from 62-100.

Sign the petition to show your support that it is time to do something about the school building with the lowest facility score in the County.  

We the undersigned care deeply about SPHS children having the same safety, security, and opportunities as children in other high schools in our county and state, and across the country. Severna Park High School lags behind in safety and facility standards and, as a result, children who attend SPHS do NOT have access to the same security measures, safe environment, technology, and curriculum opportunities that other kids do.

While some may suggest that SPHS students are already successful with what they have, think of the potential of what could be achieved by our County's students by bringing their facility to today's standards!

We ask the County School Board, the County Executive, and The County Council to ensure that this project is not further delayed.
SPHS has played a central role in our community for over 50 years. Severna Park's public schools are the number one reason why people choose to live within the feeder system. The construction project will help ensure that we have the facilities for students to achieve success at the highest levels.
SPHS has been identified as the highest priority high school renovation project in the county. In past years this project did not make it through the budget process because of politics. We need your support so that this project does not continue to be delayed. Give this project your support and help us to get the votes we need!
As background, you should know that the County Council took a policy decision some years ago, that in order for the County to contain its competitive edge and attract economic development, the school system should always have one high school renovation project funded within the budget. They agreed that the prioritization of which high school should be based on an objective score, combining the results of the Strategic Facility Utilization Study (often referred to as MGT scores), with the capacity of the school. Northeast High School was recently funded on this basis, and Severna Park High School stands next in line. The only High School in the Priority 1 list for the County, based on need and number of students, is SPHS.
Don't let our leadership go back on this important policy decision. This policy was adopted and has been in practice for well-founded reasons with an understanding of the importance of investments in students at the high school level and the difference it makes on their education and the impact on the local and national community. Any decision to neglect this policy and to delay this project even one year, has a ripple effect on the high school projects next on the list of priorities, further delaying those needs from being met.

Here are the Top 5 reasons this project should be supported now:
1. Six years ago, SPHS was determined to be a "Priority 1" school by the Strategic Facility Utilization Study* (SFU Study), with a target project of 2-4 years. It is the only high School on the County's Priority I list. Even if the project's funding is approved this year, the project is still 5 years delayed.
2. This building will have the poorest quality score (by independent reviewers) of any school facility in Anne Arundel County that isn't under construction in FY13. It has a score of 62. Other school facilities' quality scores range from 62-100. The low facility score given to SPHS affects the educational services it is able to provide. In the SFU Study, SPHS received a poor rating in the category of educational suitability - meaning that the facility has numerous problems meeting the needs of the educational program. SPHS was rated as poor in terms of technology readiness, lacking the necessary infrastructure to prepare children for today's technology-driven world.
4. SPHS does not meet a number of safety codes. The SFU Study notes that SPHS does not meet State educational specification requirements, or current life safety and building codes, parts of the building do not have fire sprinklers, as required by fire codes, and emergency vehicle access do not meet current codes.
5. There are current County programs offered at other schools that can't be offered to 2,000 Severna Park High School students because of current facility limitations that will not be addressed until this project is completed. They include:
a. The Science, Technology, and Math Program
b. The Performing Arts Program

Delaying this project means that 2,000 Anne Arundel County students will continue to use substandard facilities which don't meet security, safety and hygiene standards and curriculum standards currently being met at other high schools throughout the county and state.