Schools

Arnold Elementary Parents, Students Say New School Long Overdue

The school was built in 1967, and since then has not received any major overhauls.

A group of parents with students at Arnold Elementary School have attended the past two county budget hearings asking for planning funding, which could lead to the construction of a replacement school.

The group addressed the Anne Arundel County Council twice during public hearings on the county budget this month, asking for approval of a $2.23 million feasibility study at the school—the first step in any construction project at the school system. The study would help to determine the scale of construction that needs to be done at the school, whether it should be replaced or merely patched.

Arnold Elementary was built in 1967, and since then has not received any major overhauls. The school is listed on the school system's six-year capital plan for recommended construction in fiscal year 2015.

Find out what's happening in Broadneckwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, County Executive Laura Neuman's proposal to the Anne Arundel County Council does not include funding for the item in the next fiscal year. The council will make the final determination on the budget, which is scheduled to be voted on before June. 

Kerry Petz, a representative of the Citizen Advisory Committee for AES, said construction on a new school is long overdue. The school's lower-floor classrooms suffer from mold and moisture issues, causing some to consider transferring schools, Petz said.

Find out what's happening in Broadneckwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Our school's condition was lower than every other priority one school—and that was in 2006," Petz said. "We have waited and been patient and been pushed down the budget since 2007, now is our time and your turn to make a stand for the children of this county."

A fourth-grader at the school, Reagan Body, recounted an incident of a burst pipe in a classroom last year.

"I also remember one day when Ms. Clark’s room had a pipe burst in the ceiling and we got to have half of her class in our room. The other half went into Mrs. Smith’s room," Body said. "I guess the water was really hot so everyone said it was lucky it burst before school started, but some of their work got ruined."

On top of that, Petz noted the potential security problems with a building that was built in 1967, and since then has not received any major overhauls.

"We have 33 exterior access doors which far exceeds current standards, many doors have direct classroom access," she said.

The final 2014 county budget public hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 23 at the Arundel Center in downtown Annapolis.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Broadneck