A rally to generate community support for building a new high school in Mount Airy will take place Friday.
“I?ve had many people contacting me saying that they want a neighborhood school,” said George Maloney, a School Board candidate and event organizer.
The New Windsor resident said he and several county residents are coordinating the rally and have invited candidates representing all political parties for state, county and local offices.
“The school is needed because the students have to take a school bus for about 12 or 14 miles to go to South Carroll High School,” Maloney said.
The issue of whether to build a new high school was studied several years ago by a committee, which recommended a new middle school be built and South Carroll be renovated, Superintendent Charles Ecker said.
“Right now, we?re in the middle of an assessment of all of our buildings,” he said.
The assessment is expected to be completed in December.
Parents have been vocal about the need for renovations at South Carroll, which pales in comparison to the newer Century High School.
“We have about $2 million of planning money in our capital budget for the fine arts building for [South Carroll],” Ecker said. More extensive renovations are planned for the 2013-14 school year.
Building a new high school in Mount Airy doesn?t make sense to Mary Alexander, president of the Parent Teacher Student Association at South Carroll.
“I think it would work if it was more centralized in the county,” she said.
IF YOU GO
» What: Rally to support new high school in Mount Airy
» When: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday
» Where: Four Seasons Restaurant, 4506 Baltimore National Pike, Mount Airy
