Carroll County Parents Disapprove Of Possible School Closures

HAMPSTEAD, Md. (WJZ) -- Not giving up without a fight.

Amy Yensi reports on a group of parents who are trying to save their community schools.

It's coming down to the wire for parents, students and teachers fighting to save their schools. Carroll County hosted its first public hearing on the possible closures Tuesday night.

The fight to save North Carroll High School rages on -- it's one of three Carroll County schools on the chopping block because there aren't enough students to keep them all open.

"The writing may be on the wall, but we're going to fight this until the very last second," one parent said.

CBS Radio host Ed Norris bought his house because of the high school board of education.

"It hurts their education," Norris said. "From an emotional level, it takes away from their high school experience. Splitting up the actual Hamstead area would send kids in all different directions and the community would not be the same."

About six years ago, the county had a choice to expand the existing North Carroll High School or build a new one.

Town leaders agreed that something needed to be done about the low enrollment, which leads to less state funding. But they thought the Board of Education was moving too fast.

"Listen to the public because that's one of the problems throughout this whole process," one Hampstead council member said. "Public opinion is just not being heard."

"If you think there are too many facilities and too many buildings," said Hampstead Town Manager, Tammi Ledley, "then strategically choose the ones you're going to close."

The other two schools that could close are Charles Carroll Elementary and New Windsor Middle School. And the Board of Education told WJZ that it wants to hear from the public before making a final decision.