Parkville Excited about President Obama's Visit

On Sunday afternoon, the people of Parkville-Carney were getting excited for President Obama’s Monday morning visit to Parkville Middle School.

“I think it’s great, it’s an honor and a privilege whether you believe in what he’s doing or not—all that’s put aside,” said Jean Dibbern. 

Dibbern has two sons: one is a seventh grader who will be at Parkville Middle School during the president’s visit. The other recently graduated from the school.

“My son was talking about it on Friday afternoon, he said there would be a very special guest at school on Monday but we didn’t know who it was,” Dibbern said. “He pretty much guessed it. He said, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if it was the president?’” 

A few hours later, the Dibberns had confirmation. 

“We got a voicemail from the principal later on Friday. The message said that the president would be coming to visit and to please be patient in the morning,” Dibbern said.

Lisa Hobbs, another Parkville Middle School parent, said, “All the kids are getting very excited—my daughter was talking about it all afternoon.”

Hobbs is concerned about getting her daughter, Sydney Hobbs, to school.

“It will be an inconvenience dropping my daughter off at school Monday morning, that’s for sure,” Hobbs said. 

Dotty Raynor, a Parkville resident, doesn’t have young children but was nevertheless excited for the president’s visit. 

“It’s very exciting, and very cool for Parkville—I think it’s great that [the president] takes the initiative to come out and do these things.  He’s very good with kids, and very well spoken,” Raynor said.

Dexter Nazarino and Ashley Laflame live near Parkville Middle School and were walking a dog in the neighborhood Sunday evening. 

“When I found out I was like ‘Parkville Middle, really?’” Laflame said. 

“I think the school is pretty diverse and that probably played a role in them choosing it,” Nazarino said.

The buzz had been building in the comment sections of Parkville Patch since Friday afternoon.

"No one expected it would be the president. All the teachers weren't even told who it was, and [our principal] said he wasn't 'legally’ allowed to tell any students," said Julia Lachnit, an eighth grader at the school.  

Another commenter, Tyler Oleszczuk is in ninth grade in a Baltimore County Public School after recently graduating from Parkville Middle. He was upset that he would miss the event, but thought it was great for the school.

"This makes me mad ... they always do stuff whenever the eighth graders leave, but PMS is a good school and does need some more credit," he said.

Emily Blackner, a Patch contributer and recent BCPS graduate, shared her opinion on the visit in the comments section. 

"I think it's wonderful that the president has chosen to visit Parkville Middle, and I'm a little bit jealous of the students there who get this opportunity," Blackner said.