'Central Elementary is Not in Crisis,' Parents Say

As more than  the Anne Arundel County Board of Education Tuesday night at , two primary themes rose to the surface.

The first was that “Central Elementary is not in a crisis,” as stated by at least six speakers.

The second was that many parents feel the  is premature.

Many in attendance requested a more comprehensive plan to be executed in a few years after Lothian Elementary is completed and .

Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's redistricting proposal seeks to decrease overcrowding at  by moving some of its students to  and . 

Central Elementary School PTA Vice President Kierstin Dillahay attended the hearing and definitively said Central Elementary is not in crisis.

Concerns at the Central Elementary have surrounded its need for more parking spaces and fears that its cafeteria is too crowded to feed all the children. But Dillahay, who's had four children at the school, said that’s not the case.

“Most students bring their own lunch to school,” she said. The only time the lunch line is potentially an issue is on Fridays when it’s pizza day, she added.

Another Central Elementary mother, Amy Burgess,  she felt hurt when her school was labeled as being in a crisis.

“Come see our lunch room flow and watch the arrival and dismissal times. We’ve been called a school in crisis, but we’re not,” Burgess said. “The school in crisis is Edgewater Elementary. Wait for Lothian Elementary to be built, address Edgewater Elementary.”

Jason Pfaff, a local south county father, echoed Burgess’ statement as .

He said the current redistricting proposal would only lead to more redistricting and that a more comprehensive plan was necessary to ensure stability for the future.

“Let’s take the whole deal into account and do the whole big brave thing. Let’s believe in a better south county,” Pfaff said. “The time is now and the team is us. Let’s do it.”

While many speakers showed their appreciation to the board, Central Elementary mother and Muddy Creek Road resident Tyra Mims said she was upset that the hearing’s format.

“What’s the point of these meetings if we don’t get feedback. It’s very frustrating,” Mims said.

The redistricting proposal would move some Central Elementary students on Muddy Creek Road to Mayo Elementary, creating an unpleasant situation for those families, Mims said along with her mother Cynthia Neal.

Neal said moving Muddy Creek Road students to Mayo could easily cause “scary” scenarios for parents since there’s only one way to get to and from the school. Neal cited the .

The county school board has until April 30 to adopt a final redistricting plan.