Update on Efforts to Reduce School Overcrowding

On February 7th, the Baltimore County Board of Education approved two measures to deal with local school overcrowding. More than 25 parents and advocates packed the School Board meeting to demand a solution.

School Board member Julie Henn, a Perry Hall Middle parent, made the two motions. The first measure added funding in the amount of $250,000 for a comprehensive middle and high school enrollment study. The study aims to address enrollment growth and distribution and will result in recommendations to address overcrowding at the county's middle and high schools. Those recommendations could include redistricting, new construction, or both. The study will look across all schools countywide and will include opportunity for community input which will factor into the recommendations.
The second motion added funding in the amount of $1 million for increased contracted student transportation services to lower the student to bus seat ratio from 3-to-1 to 2-to-1.

As Perry Hall's Councilman, I know it is critical to advance solutions to overcrowding. We lowered the development potential of thousands of acres in the 2016 rezoning cycle, but much of this overcrowding comes from demographic changes as younger families move into older communities.

I would like to thank School Board member Julie Henn for her leadership, as well the Superintendent and other members of the Board of Education. Delegate Christian Miele joined me at the recent School Board meeting. But most importantly, many thanks to our parents and advocates. You can learn more at www.facebook.com/NewNortheastSchools.