With several Baltimore County schools closed today due to excessive heat, County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced that the County will provide up to $16 million in matching funds for air conditioning and heating units in schools that do not have air conditioning.

The county funds will be matched by $13.4 million in state funding awarded by the Maryland Interagency Commission on School Construction’s Healthy School Facility Fund.

According to Baltimore County Government:

Although Baltimore County will move forward with these temporary air conditioning units, Olszewski called on Governor Hogan to release the $127 million in school construction funding that he has withheld.

“Baltimore County is grateful for the state’s partnership and is ready to invest in these solutions for our children, families, and educators. However, while we are ready to act now, our students deserve long-term solutions, not quick fixes,” Olszewski said.“We again call on Governor Hogan to release severely needed school construction funds so every child in every community can have the safe, nurturing learning environment they deserve.”

At least two of the schools that will receive funds for air conditioning units from the Healthy School Facility Fund, including Bedford Elementary School and Lansdowne High school, are scheduled to be torn down and replaced in the coming years.

Read the full Baltimore County press release for more information.