The figure $66 million has popped up again and again during the recent debate on heating and facilities repairs at city schools.
Amid a steep drop in temperatures after New Year’s Day that caused dozens of heating systems to fail and schools to close, and following of picture of students huddled on the floor of their classroom in winter coats going viral, The Sun on Jan. 4 published an article that said Baltimore City Public Schools had returned $66 million in state funds since 2009 “after approved projects ran afoul of state regulations meant to prevent waste.”
The school system could have provided dozens of heating systems with that money, the story said. Critics have cited the $66 million figure to paint the school system as inept, and Gov. Larry Hogan, when he announced proposed legislation for an inspector general to oversee education, said state funds have been “completely mismanaged by the city school system.” He also gave the city $2.5 million in emergency funds to make repairs.
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