New elementary school fits the bill

Whitehall Elementary has eased overcrowding in Bowie

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Bryan Haynes⁄The Star Whitehall Elementary School’s principal Jerenze Campbell speaks to students, staff and guests Tuesday during the official ribbon cutting for the Bowie school.

But over time, the 10-year-old adapted following the move from Samuel Ogle Elementary, enjoying the smaller class sizes and fewer class changes.

That is the goal for Whitehall – to relieve overcrowding and allow students to have smaller class sizes during this critical time in their education.

And according to school and local officials, the school has already accomplished that feat within its first year.

With an A-list group of state politicians cutting the ribbon, Whitehall got its formal dedication ceremony Tuesday morning despite being open for almost 10 months. And each one of them, from Whitehall principal Jerenze Campbell to Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr. (R), was optimistic about the school’s impact and future.

‘‘Whitehall is a key component in the serious overcrowding problem in Bowie,” Mayor G. Frederick Robinson said. ‘‘It has been the lynchpin for our success.”

The opening of the 365-seat Whitehall Elementary had a ripple effect in the city school system. It relieved overcrowding at Rockledge Elementary. Students were moved from Samuel Ogle, which was converted into a middle school. That move helped the overpopulated Benjamin Tasker Middle School, which at the time was the only middle school in Bowie.

‘‘Whitehall is the corner piece in the overcrowding puzzle that has stifled Bowie,” said Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Dist. 4) of Bowie, the county councilman who spearheaded efforts to renovate the building from an office to a school.

Campbell said the transition between Samuel Ogle and Whitehall was seamless, and the school has yet to see major problems. His sentiments were echoed by PTA president Katherine Leska, who said surrounding neighborhoods have embraced the school.

‘‘I’ve never seen such a camaraderie of students and parents creating a wonderful atmosphere,” Leska said. ‘‘This is really a true community school, where parents and the community participates and helps out.”

Leska said a PTA fundraiser aimed at purchasing recess equipment such as basketballs and hula-hoops doubled expectations, thanks to outpouring support from the community.

The school was built in the 1960s and served as an elementary school until the mid-1980s when the school’s population was low. The building was converted into offices for the county school system, and housed the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

But in the last five years, the county school system was plagued with overcrowding, especially in Bowie, as development outpaced school infrastructure. Whitehall was converted back into an elementary school through a $6 million renovation project that was funded mostly by the county.

Within the next month, the school will find out if the alterations have worked when the state releases assessment scores. School administrators are optimistic that Whitehall will once again be an asset to the community.

‘‘Every child can and will be education beyond anyone’s expectations,” Campbell said. ‘‘And I think we’re accomplishing that.”

Email Jason Flanagan at jflanagan@gazette.net.