Dorothy Rowley, The Examiner
2008-05-08 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

BALTIMORE -

Baltimore County school officials will scrap plans to provide a 400-student addition to Ridge Ruxton School in Towson in support of building an elementary school next to the 127-student special needs facility.

The school board’s decision late Tuesday to build the school — in order to alleviate critical overcrowding at Stoneleigh, Hampton, Riderwood and Rodgers Forge elementary schools — comes after several months in which Ridge Ruxton had been the centerpiece of a power struggle between county politicians and the school board.

Collectively, the four schools are over capacity by nearly 500 students. Currently enrolling more than 600 students but designed to house 396, Rodgers Forge has been the most overcrowded.

“We as a community felt this was a problem that was evident and are pleased by the school board’s decision,” said Cathi Forbes, president of Towson Families United. “It’s the first in a three-part effort to solve overcrowding in Towson-area schools.”

Whether a complaint filed March 20 by Ridge Ruxton parents to offset the addition had anything to do with the board’s decision is unclear. But Laura Mullen, one of the parents involved in the filing with Maryland’s Office for Civil Rights, said the matter equates to a win-win situation for everyone.

“I’m happy about it [although] it’s going to be two schools next to each other,” said Mullen. “It’s good for everyone involved as long as they keep the two schools separate.”

The new school would be slated for opening by fall 2010, and Smith spokesman Don Mohler also said it’s a thumbs up all around.

“Obviously the county executive is pleased the school board has come up with a plan that works for everyone,” Mohler said. He added that Smith had included $18 million in his budget proposal for that purpose and that an additional $10 million had also been earmarked for programs and school additions along the York Road corridor.

Baltimore County Council Chairman Kevin Kamenetz said that he supports a new, free-standing school in Towson, and that the Ridge Ruxton site may be appropriate for construction.

The Pikesville Democrat said he is also urging school administrators to consider converting Cromwell Valley Elementary School, which he described as an underutilized magnet school, back into a neighborhood facility.

“That would help alleviate conditions in the overcrowded areas,” Kamenetz said. “The point is to make use of existing facilities that are under capacity.”

Examiner Staff Writer Jaime Malarkey contributed to this report.

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com