Enrollments on Target, Schools Clean and Ready as 108,000 Children Return

The assessment of Baltimore County’s first day of school is in, and by all accounts the opening of the 2003-2004 school year was promising and professional.

In a Sept. 9 report to the Board of Education of Baltimore County, school system Chief of Staff Merle Audette said the district’s schools, administrators, and teachers were well prepared when children arrived for the first day of class Aug. 25.
“We had a good opening,” said Ms. Audette. “We should thank all those people in the school system and outside of it that worked hard to make this a good start to the school year.”
This year’s first day was an auspicious one. With much fanfare, for instance, the county opened its first new high school in 25 years at New Town. In addition, the first day represented the culmination of an especially busy summer of improvements to many schools, including the installation of new security systems and more than 2,800 new computers.

Dr. Hairston and Mr. Sasiadek Visit Schools
As is his custom, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston saw it all first-hand. He spent much of the first day touring schools from Monkton to Middle River. “The schools looked great and the enthusiasm is high,” he said. “Our focus this year remains where it always has – on the importance of good instruction and working hard to ensure that every student achieves to his or her potential.”

Dr. Hairston, accompanied by Board of Education President James Sasiadek, began the day at New Town High School, where he was joined by State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick and County Executive James Smith. The dignitaries – accompanied by a phalanx of news cameras and reporters – greeted the school’s first students along with Principal Margaret Spicer.
Later, Dr. Hairston visited Westowne Elementary, Middleborough Elementary, Hereford Middle School, and Perry Hall High School, where he was again joined by Dr. Grasmick for an instructive tour. At Westowne, Board member Michael Kennedy lent his support to teachers and staff, while at Middleborough another Board member, Jean Jung, joined Dr. Hairston and Mr. Sasiadek to celebrate the first day.

Enrollment and Personnel
The Sept. 9 report described a school system primed for excellence. As of Sept. 8, Baltimore County had enrolled 108,141 students – 709 fewer than the projected 108,850 pupils. That figure will likely change slightly by the time the official Sept. 30 enrollment is taken, but it represented a 99 percent accuracy in the BCPS enrollment projections.
To prepare for those students on Aug. 25, the school system had worked hard to attract and hire the very best teachers and support personnel. By Sept. 8, BCPS had filled 1,032 teaching positions with new educators, with just nine teaching positions yet to be filled. Another 221 support services positions, including bus drivers, supervisors, clerical positions, instructional assistants and other positions, also were filled over the summer.
The school system also prepared its teachers and professional staff, offering scores of workshops, a three-day New Teacher Induction program for 800 new educators, and a week-long workshop for 44 newly appointed technology integration teachers.

Improvements to Buildings
The summer had been a busy one for those who maintain and improve the county’s 162 schools. In addition to cleaning and preparing each school, BCPS personnel undertook 335 projects that included 68 schools receiving upgraded security alarm and monitoring systems. Between Aug. 11 and Sept. 8, 2,847 new computers were installed in schools to replace aging equipment.

In each of Baltimore County’s five administrative areas, reports were positive:

• Southwest – With enrollment at 98.2 percent of projections, the Southwest had a smooth opening, including the relocation of the special education program from Dogwood Elementary to Winfield Elementary School. At Featherbed Lane Elementary, the school opened 37 students below enrollment projections and relocatable classrooms were removed from the Featherbed campus this year. And at Powhatan Elementary, the school celebrated higher student achievement, success that enabled the school to exit the state’s school improvement program list.
• Northwest – Enrollment has been a big issue in this part of Baltimore County, and this year’s first day saw good news on that front. With the opening of New Town High and its 437 students, Randallstown High School – which sent many of its students to New Town – opened with 223 fewer students than in 2002 and three students under the school’s official state capacity. At New Town Elementary, 878 students had enrolled by Sept. 8, a lower number than last year as well. Overall, the area was at 99.8 percent of its projection by Sept. 8.
• Central -- The Central Area opened the school year with precision – as of Sept. 8, the area’s enrollment was at 100.6 percent of projection. Five elementaries were under projection, while 10 elementary schools were slightly over. At Towson High School, where five relocatable classrooms were placed this summer, the school opened with 76 fewer student than expected, though the school remains over capacity.
• Northeast – With 2,300 students, Perry Hall High remains the county’s largest high school. But it opened this year at 50 students under its projected enrollment, and plans continue for construction of a walk-way to improve student traffic flow. Overall, the area began the year with 98.9 percent of its projected enrollment.
• Southeast – The Southeast area also experienced a smooth start to the year, with enrollment by Sept. 8 at 99.8 percent of projections. Enrollment exceeded projections at two high schools – Chesapeake and Patapsco highs – though each has plenty of room to accommodate the additional students. And a move for students at the Inverness Center to the Rosedale Center also went smoothly.
  
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Story and Photos by Charles Herndon Communications Officer