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This fall, Hollywood Elementary School in College Park will add a third second-grade class and a third temporary classroom to help solve overcrowding.

"Our class size is OK, it's just that we increase the number of classrooms we need," said Principal Barbara Caskey. "We're just having to use every space that's available."

According to projections by the Prince George's County Board of Education, the school is populated at 133 percent of its capacity and will operate at 161 percent by 2015. College Park officials are ready to step in and lobby the board for a solution.

"We strongly felt that something needs to be done soon," said City Councilman Patrick Wojahn (Dist. 1). "I understand that the Board of Education does have some financial problems, as a lot of us do nowadays ... but I think it's time that they devote some resources to this area."

Wojahn worked with Denise Mitchell, chair of the city's Education Advisory Committee; Peggy Higgins, College Park Youth and Family Services director; and Caskey to draft a letter to the Board of Education's two area members, Rosalind Johnson (Dist. 1) and Heather Iliff (Dist. 2).

Mitchell wrote a preliminary letter and presented it Tuesday night to the City Council.

According to the letter, which has not been sent to the board, Hollywood has tried to address the problem in a number of ways, including the use of temporary trailers and conversion of supply closets for individual instruction.

While overcrowding is often met with cries for redistricting, Mitchell suggested that the county expand the school.

"I have to applaud this. Normally, it's just everybody complaining about being overcrowded," said Mayor Stephen Brayman. "It's the first I've seen somebody say, ‘Hey, why don't you expand it to accommodate the additional students?'"

Wojahn said past redistricting efforts have been ineffective, considering that Paint Branch Elementary School, located about two miles south of Hollywood, has already been redistricted to include much of northern College Park but has not solved the problem.

"A lot of folks who currently go to Hollywood Elementary School don't want to leave Hollywood," Wojahn said. "So people would be very opposed, I think, to changing the boundaries in any way."

Councilman Robert Catlin (Dist. 2) had a different view, that redistricting would be an ideal remedy because Paint Branch could easily support more students.

"We have Paint Branch Elementary School, which is operating at about 60 percent its capacity," Catlin said. "Why are we telling the school board to invest in making Hollywood a bigger school when there's options that cost effectively no money?"

Iliff said the Board of Education is well aware of overcrowding issues and has begun looking into redistricting plans. She added that economic constraints make new construction unlikely.

"We're going to have to make due with our facilities for a lot longer," Iliff said. "This whole area inside the Beltway – every school except, I think, Paint Branch – is overcrowded."

Brayman said the council will work with Mitchell and her collaborators to draft a revised letter and possibly arrange a meeting between the council, Johnson and Iliff.

"If you don't get them to a meeting, you're not in too good of shape with them," Brayman said. "I applaud the effort ... Nobody wants to overlook any possible opportunities."

E-mail David Hill at dhill@gazette.net.