Dorothy Rowley, The Examiner
2008-04-25 07:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

Residents in the northeast and central areas of Baltimore County are galvanizing for a protest Tuesday regarding inadequate education funding.

Protest organizers say County Executive Jim Smith’s administration has failed to properly address the educational needs of the county’s children.

“We feel that the way Smith’s administration is handling the issues of schools overcrowding is an abomination,” George Ward told The Examiner. “Based on our past experiences regarding overcrowding at Loch Raven High School, there’s a tremendous amount of interest in overcrowding at several county schools.”

Ward, accompanied by resident Laurie Mitchell, has largely led the charge for replacement of Loch Raven High School rather than agreeing to the county’s plan to spend $17 million renovating the 36-year-old building.

Over the past few months, overcrowded classrooms at Rodgers Forge, Hampton, Riderwood and Stoneleigh elementary schools — totaling 451 students — have spawned mounting public outcry over the county’s refusal to construct a new elementary facility.

While Rodgers Forge’s student population has doubled this year, plans to alleviate overcrowding at Towson, Perry Hall and Dulaney high schools and accommodate 400 additional students at Loch Raven also have been met with a maelstrom of opposition.

Board of Education President JoAnn Murphy acknowledged the county’s lack of education funding.

“The school board would like to see greater funding because we’ve got a very aging system of schools that leads to overcrowding in many places,” Murphy said.

Towson Families United has staunchly opposed use of trailers at elementary schools to ease overcrowding and championed long-term solutions to the problem.

The organization has accused Smith of ignoring pleas of the school board for newly constructed schools.

“We found out that there’s $18 million in the county executive’s budget to correct overcrowding,” TFU President Cathi Forbes said. “We’re contending [new schools] will solve the problems.”

The rally, beginning at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday at the plaza between the courthouses in Towson, precedes the County Council’s budget hearing.

Calls to Smith’s office Thursday were not returned by press time. His staff said Wednesday that he has reserved $18 million in county funds in his proposed fiscal 2009 budget for additions to Towson-area schools.

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com