Baltimore County Executive vetoes school overcrowding bill

Last Thursday, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski vetoed a controversial bill meant to reduce overcrowding in schools.

Olszewski said the bill would limit opportunities to build affordable housing in the county, and it would not solve overcrowding.

“I share your concerns regarding school overcrowding and support efforts to responsibly address it,” Olszewski said in a statement. “At the same time, we must expand access to attainable housing.”

Baltimore County Council Chair Izzy Patoka called the county executive’s veto “extremely disappointing.”

“I am very concerned about both the action and inaction related to school overcrowding,” Patoka said. “I am hopeful and confident that this council will support communities, families, teachers and children in Baltimore County by overriding this veto.”

The new Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, passed by the County Council on June 3, would have restricted new development in areas where schools are operating at 105% or more of their state-allotted capacity.

Under the current law, schools are considered overcrowded if they are at 115% or more of their official capacity.

“Most people would agree that anything above 100 percent means a school exceeds its capacity, but that is not the case with the current APFO,” said Councilman David Marks.

At nearly 150% capacity, Dundalk High School is one of the most overcrowded schools in the county, with more than 2,100 students enrolled and room for only 1,446. Two new additions are already being planned, which are expected to raise the school’s state-rated capacity to 2,163.

Sparrows Point High School is well over that limit, with more than 1,100 students and a capacity of 871. In the 2023-24 school year, Patapsco High School was just under 100% of its capacity, with 1,312 students and a state-rated capacity of 1,334. Renovations to these schools are also being considered as part of the county’s Southeast Area High School Study.