Back to School!!!
You hear that? That’s the sound of thousands of county parents sighing in relief now that school is back. There is lots going on around our county schools. Let’s take a look…
- If you haven’t heard (and I don’t know how you could have missed the media blitz), Patterson Mill High/Middle has opened. The school is state of the art, with high tech media labs for radio and journalism. Maybe they can send some kids and cameras over to Halls Cross Roads Elementary in Aberdeen, where it looks like outdoor recess will be cancelled for a while. It seems that the new playground that was promised is taking a little longer than expected. Now, there is not grass behind the school, and where there were playgrounds and athletic fields, now sites bulldozers and backhoes. Pictures soon…
- Fifth graders from Prospect Mill are being transferred to Southhampton middle to ease overcrowding. Sure beats the temporary classrooms that litter many other schools around the county.
- David Craig announced that the county has purchased 23 acres in Churchville to build a new elementary school, and already has plans for another elementary school in the Vale Rd. area of Bel Air. This still won’t be enough, as Craig claims a new middle school is needed in Bal Air as well.
Things aren’t going to get any better. Aberdeen High School is overcrowded (mostly due to the county not coming up with the proper funding, but hey, Patterson Mill has a state-of-the-art child development lab! I saw it on TV.). Edgewood is overcrowded as well. We all know that with BRAC coming, there is a good chance that these schools will be impacted.
I agree with your malcontent in finishing the playground at Hall’s
Crossroads. I think it is a shame to leave recess as indoor organized
play. Especially for the younger children and those with behavoiral
issues to begin with. And as a parent, I would worry about "off site"
recess. In this day and age?
My guess with the Patterson Mill project was "here’s to the future"
kind of thing and if "we are going to spend this much money on a
school, let’s make it state of the art". I am just guessing there. I
would imagine that the parents are very pleased, or at least hope that
they are.
And yes overcrowding… what’s to do? I do think there needs to be
another school built on the route 40 side of the County, but where?
That is a hard question. Take into account proximity, new developments
and diversity. I wil leave that to the experts, if they ever see fit!