School Officials Map Stoneleigh Into Carver Center

Stoneleigh Elementary School parents got a preview of what might be the school's upcoming "180-day field trip."

County schools officials and Stoneleigh's principal led a presentation and tours of the on Monday to show how Stoneleigh might use the space during a at Stoneleigh next year.

, school officials presented parents with a choice—either stay at Stoneleigh during construction there, or bus their children to Carver for a year. The latter would result in a quicker and cheaper construction.

Parents whom Patch has spoken with were unanimously in support of the Carver plan. Surveys are due Wednesday.

The Carver building, , will be empty next year. The school's students will already have moved to a new building, now under construction.

During the presentation, officials elaborated on the sort of work that will need to be done to turn a magnet high school into an elementary school. A black-box theater will become the new cafeteria. Dance studios will turn into indoor recess spaces. Cosmetology classrooms will house kindergartens.

"We took everything that you have at Stoneleigh and programmed it in this building," said Dennis Gentilin, a Baltimore County Public Schools project manager.

Stoneleigh principal Christine Warner—a Carver graduate—conceded the plan isn't perfect. Outdoor recess space will be at a premium, and third grade classrooms would be broken up. Most parents, however, appeared content.

"It seems like a lot of thought has gone into this and Mrs. Warner has put all the best interests of the children in mind," said Stoneleigh resident Jennifer Broome, who will have a kindergartener there next year.

"I don't think it's an ideal plan," said Loch Hill resident Kimberly Brown, who has a third-grader at Stoneleigh. "But for what we've got, it's going to be fine."