One of my priorities as County Councilman has been to reduce school overcrowding. This is a complex problem, and not entirely driven by new development. In Carney and Parkville, for instance, we are seeing a demographic turnover as older homeowners sell to young parents. That has resulted in overcrowding at places like Harford Hills Elementary School, where there is almost no new development.
Here are the steps I am taking to reduce overcrowding.
In 2012, the County Council Roads downzoned more than 263 acres in Perry Hall to limit development in areas such as the Silver Spring Road corridor, along Seven Courts Drive, and at East Joppa and Chapel Roads.
In this year’s budget, we secured funding to build a 700-seat elementary school in northeastern Baltimore County. Overcrowding is most severe at the elementary school level. Depending on which site is picked, there may be an opportunity to dedicate land immediately for a future middle or high school, which I have long supported.
The County Council is expected to pass legislation I am sponsoring to recalibrate the Honeygo Plan, which guides development in the fastest-growing part of Perry Hall. My goal here is to slow development until the elementary school is complete. Where there is a choice between a traditional development that gets built quickly, or a Planned Unit Development that takes longer, I will support the project that slows future school enrollment.
I also obtained a commitment from Superintendent Dance that there will be a residency audit at places like Perry Hall High School.
We are making progress. I look forward to the day, very soon, when we have smaller classrooms throughout northeastern Baltimore County.