A tour of South Carroll High School Tuesday gave county commissioners, parents and community leaders a glimpse of some of the school?s problem areas.
“This is an ongoing discussion with us,” said Commissioner Dean Minnich. “But [the tour] will broaden our understanding of the complexities of the problem.”
The decades-old auditorium is too small with uncomfortable seats, many classrooms have heating issues and the wrestling room is cramped with a low ceiling, South Carroll parents said Tuesday.
Many parents have complained about inequities in South Carroll?s facilities compared with other county high schools.
South Carroll, built in 1967, has seen several improvements in the past decade, but many argue much remains to be done.
One sticking point is a new fine arts facility. Plans have been pushed back for several years, with the project sliding down the list of funding priorities, parents said.
“The [school] board points to the commissioner, and the commissioner points to the [school] board,” said Sara Terpening, a South Carroll parent at the tour.
But since South Carroll isn?t facing overcrowding, the commissioners have a harder case to the state for money, Minnich said.
At more than 261,000 square feet, South Carroll has more space per student than many other schools. Although many classes were filled beyond the 30-student mark, class size depends on how many students sign up for a course, said Carroll Director of High Schools Sherri-Le Bream.
Many other schools strive for a balance in each class and administrators will be working this year to ensure adequate staffing for each class, Bream said.
School Superintendent Charles Ecker said a projected class size for South Carroll this year is 26.9, which is the county?s average.
However, many parents said it?s less an issue of class capacity as it is about the quality of facilities. Many compared the aged facilities to the four-year-old Century High School nearby.
PTA President Mary Alexander said school officials have to work with what they have.
“You have to choose your battles, but remember what South Carroll needs,” she said.
