After six months of community engagement, Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance will recommend several proposals to relieve capacity issues in the southwest and central areas of Baltimore County, as reported by the Baltimore County Public Schools.

In the southwest area, the school system proposes to build new buildings for three existing schools. The new 700-seat buildings for Westowne, Catonsville, and Relay elementary schools will increase the capacity of those schools by 197, 295, and 285 seats respectively. . . A fourth proposed project for the southwest area is an addition to Westchester Elementary for a net gain of 201 seats.

In the central area, the school system proposes to reopen a 500-seat Loch Raven Elementary School and relocate the students and staff of Halstead Academy there; build an addition to Cromwell Valley Elementary School to add 289 seats; and renovate the current Halstead Academy building to accommodate a new countywide school.

“By working so closely with our community and government stakeholders, we have developed proposed solutions that do much more than create more room for our students,” said Superintendent Dance. “By taking a thoughtful approach and aligning these projects with our soon-to-be-released 10-year facilities plan, we are designing 21st century learning environments that will facilitate student engagement and our instructional digital conversion; enhance safety; maximize flexibility; and abide by sustainable design standards.”

For more information, see the Baltimore County Public Schools Press Release.