Mar 13, 2008 11:15 pm US/Eastern
Parents Protest Plan To Fix Overcrowded Schools
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
A fiery protest is sparked by dozens of parents who say their children are being forced to learn in overcrowded schools.
Kathryn Brown reports Rodgers Forge Elementary in Baltimore County is one of several schools that are severely overcrowded, but parents dispute the plan by the county to fix the problem.
Their rally chant during the protest rang out loudly--"We need a new school!"
Dozens of parents and students rallied in front of Rodgers Forge Elementary to send a message to county leaders.
"We have classes that have 30 children in them. In the trailer classrooms in particular you can barely walk around," said parent Alyson Bonavoglia.
Parents and even some students voiced their concerns at a community meeting.
Taken together, Rodgers Forge, Stoneleigh, Riderwood and Hampton Elementary schools are over the recommended limit by 451 students.
Fourth grader Ian Rinehart says his lunchroom is so crowded, he doesn't have time to eat by the time he gets through the line.
"I can't even focus because I need something to eat for crying out loud," said Rinehart.
"Everything is run on such a tight schedule. There are seven trailers outside the building. There will be nine next year," said parent Cathi Forbes.
Parents blame County Executive Jim Smith for rejecting a plan to move about 100 special-ed students at Ridge Ruxton Elementary to a new school in Mays Chapel and reopening Ridge Ruxton as a general purpose elementary school.
His spokesperson Don Mohler tells
Eyewitness News it's the best compromise.
"The county executive wants to add a 400-seat addition onto Ridge Ruxton. We need a school. We need an entire school," said Bonavoglia.
Mohler says the county executive vetoed the Mays Chapel plan after getting heavy opposition from people in that area.
The Central Area Advisory Council will relay parents' concerns on to the Board Of Education which will then recommend a plan of action to the county board.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WJZ.COM's Most Popular Slideshows
