Geographic Inequity and Schools-Dundalk United against School Closings and Untested Pre-K to 8 in 2 Buildings School Format

There is a new example of geographic inequity happening in Dundalk with regard to the closing of 2 its elementary schools (Eastwood Elementary Magnet School and Norwood Elementary School) and the closing of Holabird Middle School. 

Out of the ashes of these 3 community schools Dr. Dance aka "the stealth superintendent" is proposing an untested format for a pre-K to 8 school across 2 school buildings. It seems that in the not so distant past there was a similar idea for Sparks Elementary School, i.e., to create a K-8 school for Sparks.  The parents of Sparks would not hear of it and it did not happen. 

I do not begrudge the parents and student at Sparks their victory, but I think that Baltimore County Board of Education and Baltimore County Government owe that same consideration to the parents and students of Dundalk.

Superintendent S.D. Dance's Pre-K to 8 school format proposal is more about accommodating County Executive Kevin Kamenetz plan to sell off the current Dundalk Government Center land and relocate the Government Center at the current Eastwood Elementary Magnet School property. 

This has nothing to do with citizens and students, but more to do with sale development of the land where the current Dundalk Government Center is located.

A similar plan in Towson to relocate the Towson Fire Department on the site of the current Towson Manor Park to enable Baltimore County Government to sell and develop the current location of the Towson Fire Department at York Road and Bosley Avenue.  The people of Towson did not put up with this proposal.

Similarly, the citizens of Dundalk should not and are not putting up with the arbitrary decision to close and reconfigure Eastwood Elementary Magnet School, Norwood Elementary School and Holabird Middle School. 

At a packed meeting attended by all or most of the Dundalk local and state representatives, Councilman John Olszewski, Sr. told the citizens at the meeting that if they did not want this to happen--the relocation of the government center and the closing of Eastwood Magnet Elementary School, Norwood Elementary School and Holabird Middle School then it would not happen.

Tonight 3 meetings are being held: one at Eastwood Elemenary Magnet School; one at Norwood Elementary School and one at Holabird Middle School.  The next step in trying to close the 3 Dundalk schools, and reconfigure them (into an untested and not supported by educational research) conglomerate pre-k to 8 school. 

Now is the time for Councilman John Olszewski, Sr. to keep his word.  He needs to attend the Dundalk United Rally on Saturday, January 19th.  Councilman Olszewski should also go with Dundalk United citizens to the Board of Education meeting next Tuesday to show that he stands with the citizens that he represents.  

Councilman Olszewski needs to say that he opposes the Baltimore County Board of Education proposal to close and reconfigure 3 schools in his district into a school format that is unproven and unsupported by any educational research.

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