More School Consolidations Could Occur Under Dance Administration
The Baltimore County Board of Education recently approved a recommendation from Superintendent Dallas Dance to merge three Dundalk schools.
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Though they say no definitive plans are in the works, Baltimore County Public Schools officials aren't ruling out the possibility of additional school consolidations—similar to a recent Dundalk merger.
"[Superintendent Dallas Dance] has been saying for a while that he's looking for ways to make things run more efficiently for the students," said Charles Herndon, a school system spokesman.
The Board of Education approved a merger of Norwood Elementary, Holabird Middle and Eastwood Elementary schools in Dundalk against strong opposition from parents. The consolidation will result in the closure of Eastwood, starting in the 2013-2014 school year.
Critics of the proposal accused the school system of caving to the whim of County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, who is in the process of selling off property to construct new county facilities. The Eastwood site is a possible location for a new police precinct.
But school administrators countered that the primary intent behind the move was to make Eastwood's STEM magnet program available to more students. Currently, there is a waiting list of approximately 100 students seeking admission to the program.
Starting in the next school year, the Holabird STEM Academy will operate as a pre-kindergarten through eighth school on the Norwood Elementary and Holabird Middle campuses.
Following a December 2012 meeting announcing intentions for the Dundalk merger, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Hobbs said the consolidation was not indicative of a larger countywide trend.
"That was accurate at the time," Herndon said.
John
8:40 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I don't care what anyone says, the primary purpose was and is to sell of the North Point Government Center property--for whate ever reason. The STEM program is being tossed at the Eastwood & Norwood parents to appease them. The school system does this all the time to try and make getting what they want easier to take.
H S
8:56 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Maybe this is why we need more elected school board members?
Do county discussions on school related things currently get aired on t.v.?
Maybe it should be a policy that the county is made aware when these things are being discussed; so, that the people may have more input?
Paula Ann Rebbert
11:45 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Between my 2 kids, I have been driving back n forth every day 4 12 yrs. Very upsetting that my 4th grader wont get 2 finish out her elementary years at the only school she's ever known.
Tim
11:49 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
So basically (if I read this article correctly), the critics counterargument is they are just angry Kamenetz might put the land to better use.
If it's not going to cause overcrowding at the two schools...
NottinghamFamily
5:53 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
What they are not mentioning about this merge however, is the fact that first through fifth graders will now be bussed and schooled in the same building as middle school aged children. Also, Eastwood was a magnet only program, with specialized teachers trained in the advanced schooling required for the program. Children must test and qualify for such programs, not just be a student at a school in order to qualify. It's a lengthy process that's involved and cannot be implemented between now and the upcoming school year. This decision was made regardless of extremely strong opposition from the community after having multiple protests, meetings and despite all this, they voted strongly against the wishes of the public and the parents of children attending the closing school.
There are many empty, languishing properties in the area and opponents to this merge cited dozens of shopping deserts that could have been utilized to create a new place for the police station. The NP Government center also housed a large, thriving community of children's sporting and other activities with adjacent ballfields and facilities. It's amazing it got this far really.
Tim
11:21 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
OK, here's the actual counterarguments against it. Thanks for sharing NF.
H S
8:25 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
It sounds like maybe the county is only trying to save money on purchase and construction costs by utilizing ready to go school buildings . If there are empty, unused properties available though, eminent domain might be a consideration to put them to use, rather than dismantling a working system the community values.
Steve
11:30 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
In the RFP for the NP Government Center there is a requirement that an equal amount of ballfields and indoor space has gone retained or replaced in close proximity. Nothing is going to be decreased or lost.
Ashley Virginia
3:51 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Steve, We have not been guaranteed anything. and the chances of them rebuilding a 650 seat theatre with storage, dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, etc is unlikely. Also there is no where in dundalk for the property to be relocated. The RFP says nothing about the river that runs along the property.
The RFP does not state when or where it will be rebuilt. They can say they will rebuild and they will rebuild who knows maybe 10 years down the road?
Steve
3:55 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
The RFP does too.. What does the stream have to do with anything?
CHARLES
11:43 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The community will lose a 27 acre park. The land can't be replaced.
It's not all about ballfields and indoor recreation space.
CHARLES
11:46 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
What's the next Dundalk school on the list?
Maybe Dundalk Middle?