Baltimore County Puts $10M To Solving Overcrowding Problem

PERRY HALL, MD — Overcrowded schools in Northeastern Baltimore County resulted in the opening of Honeygo Elementary and the construction of Rossville Elementary, which is expected to open in the fall.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said his upcoming budget would include funding to solve overcrowded high schools in the area as well.

He will budget $10 million for addressing high school overcrowding in the Northeast and Southeast, with $5 million allocated to each area, according to Erica Palmisano, spokesperson for Baltimore County government.

These are among several projects for which the county is allocating $70 million, Palmisano said:

• $15.2 million for a replacement school for Red House Run Elementary in Rosedale
• $13.5 million for an addition to Dundalk High School
• $10 million for addressing high school overcrowding in the Northeast and Southeast (each will be given $5 million)
  • $3 million budgeted for a Patapsco High School solution, which will be determined
• $10 million for design funds for a new Dulaney High School
• $9 million in design funds for a like-new Towson High School
• $5.81 million for an addition to Pine Grove Middle School in Parkville
• $2.467 million for a replacement school for Scotts Branch Elementary in Woodlawn
• $5o0,000 to plan to expand career and technical education (CTE) in the Northwest area

"Please note that this is not the total cost of the projects," Palmisano told Patch. Instead, they are "additional funds the county is investing during the upcoming fiscal year as part of these multi-year construction plans."

The state is also putting money toward the capital projects.

The investments will positively impact students on multiple levels, according to Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams.

"Not only will they address the need for more seats in our growing school system, they will give students, their families, and their communities state-of-the-art learning hubs and meeting and athletic facilities for years to come," Williams said. "We are grateful for the support."

These projects were already funded, and are continuing to move forward, officials said:

• New Lansdowne High School
• Summit Park Elementary School
• Rossville Elementary
• Bedford Elementary
• Northeast Middle School
• New Deer Park Elementary School, which will be the County’s first net-zero school.

Officials said the upcoming projects are part of Baltimore County's goal to eliminate trailers on school campuses in the next decade.

"My entire career was in a trailer," said Olszewski, who was a teacher at Patapsco High School from 2004 to 2009. "Kids deserve to be in the building and deserve to be in world-class facilities."

Olszewski will present his budget April 14 to the County Council.