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WEBVTT ON THE OPENING OF THE NEW SCHOOL OPENING AND WHITE MARSH. IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR STUDENTS TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW SURROUNDINGS. A $49 MILLION BUILDING IN PLACE TO HELP EASE OVERCROWDING IN THE NORTHEAST. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND INTERIM SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TOWARD CLASSROOMS AND TALKED ABOUT WHY THEY DECIDED TO KEEP 10 BUILDINGS CLOSED. >> IT IS ALWAYS A TOUGH CALL BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS THAT CALL HAS TO BE PARAMOUNT ACED ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY. TIM: THE COUNTY SAID IT IS MAKING LONG-TERM PLANS TO ADDRESS THE AIR-CONDITIONING PROBLEM. >> A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT OPENING HAVE STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND MANY ARE PLANNED TO BE REBUILT TIM: ONE OF THOSE IS 93-YEAR-OLD DUNDALK ELEMENTARY, TO BE TORN DOWN AND REPLACED WITH A NEW SCHOOL THAT WILL OPEN IN FALL OF 2020. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE EXISTS AFTER INSISTS THERE ARE SIGNS OF PROGRESS. >> WE BEGAN WITH 95%, WE ARE GOING TO FINISH THE JOB, IT IS GREAT PROGRESS, AND WE WILL GET IT DONE. TIM: SOME LOT MAKERS -- LAWMAKERS SAY IT IS NEEDING TO BE DONE. >> WILL AGAIN DO IS PRAY THAT THE WEATHER BREAKS. TIM: THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT MORE AIR-CONDITIONING AND SCHOOLS.

Advertisement Lack of A/C forces some schools to delay start, others dismiss early 10 Baltimore County schools delay opening, 65 city schools to dismiss early due to lack of A/C Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Many Maryland schools opened Tuesday for the start of another academic year. But that was not the case for several schools around our area due to the hot and humid weather.Ten Baltimore County public schools were not open on the first day of school Tuesday. The lack of air conditioning prevented the following schools from opening on the first day, according to school officials:Bedford ElementaryBerkshire ElementaryColgate ElementaryDundalk ElementaryCampfield Early Learning CenterCatonsville Center of Alternative StudiesDulaney High SchoolLansdowne High SchoolPatapsco Center for the Arts High SchoolWoodlawn High SchoolThe same schools and centers will be closed again Wednesday.Baltimore County officials address A/C problemHot school concerns across Baltimore County appeared to put a damper of sorts on the opening of the new Honeygo Elementary School in White Marsh.It didn't take long for students to become familiar with their new surroundings -- a $49 million building in place to help ease overcrowding in the northeast.Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler and interim school Baltimore County Superintendent Verletta White toured classrooms. They also talked about why they decided to keep 10 buildings closed."It's always a tough call, but when it comes to the health and safety of our students that call has to be paramount based on that health and safety," White said."We're really disappointed for the students, the teachers, the administrators and the moms and dads who were ready for day one. It's always a special day," Mohler said.The county said it's making long-term plans to address the air conditioning problem."A lot of schools that are not opening today have some structural issues and many are planned to rebuild," Baltimore County Councilman David Marks said.One of those schools on the drawing board is 93-year-old Dundalk Elementary. It's set to be torn down and replaced with a new school that'll open in the fall of 2020. The county executive insists there are signs of progress."Today we begin with about 95 percent. We're going to finish the job. It's great progress and we'll get it done," Mohler said.But some state lawmakers say later may not be soon enough."It's hard to be patient when you don't have a place to send your child to school because it's so ungodly hot and what we can all do is pray the weather breaks," state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier said.Baltimore County has put air conditioning and central air conditioning in 90 schools since 2010. There are more on the drawing board including the 10 that were closed Tuesday.Dozens of Baltimore City schools dismiss earlySchools in Baltimore City also have the same issue of no air conditioning. In the city, 65 schools dismissed early. Check here for a complete list of schools and dismissal times."Long-term, we have a plan we've submitted to the state, so we had year-by-year targets for schools that are not being renovated to have air conditioning. Right now, the school board currently approves $30 million of operating a year, which is frankly unheard of for a local school system, so we have a plan in place and we're going to systematically, year-over-year make sure we get all of our buildings air conditioned," city schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises said.In addition to the schools previously announced, the following closed three hours early Tuesday due to problems with A/C: Ben Franklin High School, Youth Opportunity, Dallas Nicholas, Gwynns Falls, Margaret Brent, Robert Coleman and Thomas Jefferson.Gov. Larry Hogan posted the following statement online: "It is completely unacceptable that some schools in the same two jurisdictions are back in this same position this year, starting the school year with no air conditioning when we have been pushing them to fix it for years."We were told that several of the schools in Baltimore City that are closing today would have A/C installed before school started. In fact, we changed the regulations to allow them to use their school construction dollars for portable units until they could install central air, just like Anne Arundel County successfully did."We have provided record funding for K-12 education, including record funding for school construction, so this is not a matter of money. This is a lack of leadership, lack of oversight, and lack of responsible spending."Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh tweeted a statement, saying, "I agree that our children deserve the very best schools and environments in which to learn. We will open more new schools in Baltimore City this year than the entire state of Maryland. Today's need to close schools early is the result of years of underinvestment."To accommodate students, Baltimore Recreation and Parks' centers and park pools opened at noon. Tap here for a list of pool locationsBaltimore Teachers Union President Marietta English released a statement Tuesday regarding the schools closures and early releases."The fact that more than 60 of our schools are operating without air conditioning indicates how dire the need is for increased funding for our schools. No child, or educator, should have to try to learn in a classroom that’s extremely hot. This places a huge damper on the learning environment."Students and teachers at Baltimore City College agree."Our students deserve a learning environment that is cool in the summer and warm in the winter," said senior Henry Bethell."It's very distracting trying to learn while fanning your face and wanting to put your head down. I had an aching headache today in the last period that i was in because of the fact that it was so hot," said sophomore A'Niya Taylor.Baltimore City's teachers union also expressed frustration over the school system's A/C issue. "It's a travesty for our kids to have to be in a very warm or hot environment trying to learn on the first day of school," said Kenya Campbell, chair of the union. With temperatures not expected to budge the rest of the week, they anticipate more problems. "We do expect a lot of calls. We do expect to hear from teachers and para-professionals stating that their environments aren't conducive to learning," Campbell said.As far as what can be or what is being done, Santelises said protocols are in place, which include the early dismissals. The future will depend on lawmakers in Annapolis. "We have a plan (that) we've submitted to the state. So we have year-by-year targets for schools that are not being renovated to have air-conditioning," said Santelises. To make matters worse for the city, Santelises said the school board recently approved a $30 million budget for operating costs, which he said is unheard of for a school system Baltimore's size.Flooding impacts bus routes in Harford CountyBus stops for Harford County school students were also moved because of recent flooding. Check those here.Stay with WBALTV.com and 11 News for more on this developing story.