Advertisement Baltimore City school officials say the state owes $290 million in back payments Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Baltimore City Public Schools have been doing more with less for the past decade, and now school officials say the state owes them $290 million in back payments. According to school officials and state delegates, the 2008 recession is the reason for the shortchanging of the city school system."By any measure, city schools have been shortchanged," said Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises. "So this underfunding is not a request for additional dollars, it is a request for dollars that are documented owed past due funding for Baltimore City Schools."Santelises hopes the city delegation can help recoup that money. Delegate Brooke Lierman, D-Baltimore City, said less money was coming to the city starting in 2008. "Because of the cuts made during the recession to the funding formula, Baltimore City has been shortchanged for years," said Lierman.School officials say the lack of funding has also created a $3 billion backlog of maintenance issues. "We still have over a hundred school buildings that need roofs, boilers, better heat, air conditioning," said Cheryl Casciani, chairperson of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.School officials provided five studies to the city delegation. They all found Maryland ranks low nationally in the amount of money given to districts with low-income households. "We propagate that we are a district, we are a state that cares for our young people, yet the data and track record says otherwise," said Santelises.Under the 21st century plan, nine new schools have opened. As many as 28 will be renovated or built by 2022, but expediting that schedule will take money the school system doesn't have."I am asking for past due funds," said Santelises.A long-term plan is a work in progress. In the meantime, the city delegation will work with Gov. Larry Hogan's administration to identify areas where more funding for city schools could come from.