Piney Orchard Elementary School parents fear a new elementary school in Gambrills next fall will tear apart their neighborhood.
“We?ve very disappointed,because not only are they taking the children from our school, but they?re splitting a neighborhood within the Piney Orchard community,” said Heather Luke, Piney Orchard Elementary PTA president, who added that students would have to attend the third farthest school from them.
A committee has been studying various proposals for how to handle the redistricting for the new school and finalized its recommendations this week.
Although some parents are upset, the redistricting proposal will alleviate the overcrowding at Piney Orchard in Odenton, as well as Four Seasons Elementary School in Gambrills, said Claire Louder, committee chairwoman.
“Under this new proposal, every [school] ends up under capacity on the west side of Route 3,” Louder said.
“Anybody walking to Piney Orchard was left there, but those who were bussed will go to Four Seasons [Elementary School].”
Currently, first- through fifth-graders are allowed to walk if they are within one mile of the school, and kindergartners are allowed to walk if they are within 1/2 mile.
Piney Orchard parent Linda Chisarick said at this week?s school board that the redistricting proposal was “?inequitable? for the west side [of Route 3] and should be carefully reexamined.”
The committee also proposed:
? Crofton Middle and Arundel High schools as the feeder schools. All students living in the Crofton area would attend Crofton Middle.
? All students east of Route 3 and all of Walden community students attend the new elementary school, which is projected to have a capacity of 712.
Superintendent Kevin Maxwell will make his redistricting recommendations to the School Board next month.
Public hearings will begin next year.
BY THE NUMBERS
Current and proposed elementary school enrollment after redistricting for new school in Gambrills:
Piney Orchard: 699 to 465
Four Seasons: 697 to 509
Odenton: 359 to 388
Waugh Chapel: 415 to 412
Crofton: 732 to 552
Crofton Meadows: 427 to 407
Crofton Woods: 561 to 548
Source: Anne Arundel residents? redistricting committee
