School board spent less on energy; O'Malley's message: Keep saving

Cumberland Times-News
Kristin Harty Barkley
October 30, 2009

CUMBERLAND - Allegany County school officials already know the benefits of good energy management, having saved more than $4.1 million in energy costs from 2003 to 2008.

Last week, Gov. Martin O'Malley sent David Cox and other Maryland school superintendents home from Annapolis with an ultimatum: Keep saving.

"Gov. O'Malley was clear that the next couple of years will be tough budget years," said Cox, who attended the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland's second annual Superintendents Day in Annapolis on Oct. 20. "My superintendent colleagues from across the state and I are very appreciative that he has held preK through 12 education harmless from state budget cuts to date."

That could change in the months ahead, O'Malley warned. The state faces a $2 billion shortfall next year in its $13 million operating budget, and O'Malley implored superintendents to scour their budgets for savings.

"He offered some examples such as purchasing materials, supplies, commodities in bulk," said Cox, who started his job in July after moving to Cumberland from Culpeper County, Va. Energy-saving strategies were already in place, after Allegany County contracted with Energy Education in 2002 to develop a comprehensive plan.

From 2003 to 2008, public schools saved the equivalent of the amount of energy necessary to operate 3,514 passenger cars for a full year, according to Dennis Read, energy manager for the school system.

Cox said he briefed Central Office staff and the board about the governor's remarks and is seeking creative ideas for how to cut costs while maintaining quality in the education system.

"We do continue to look for ways to gain greater efficiencies as the governor suggested," he said.