LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Teachers, parents and students from White Marsh Elementary School filled the St. Mary’s County Board of Education meeting room Feb. 18, urging board members to reject any future closure of White Marsh Elementary as part of recommendations stemming from the redistricting and utilization study.
The public hearing followed earlier presentations by CannonDesign and Superintendent Dr. Scott Smith regarding boundary adjustments and long-term facility planning. While the superintendent has recommended pausing any closure decision for two years to monitor enrollment trends, White Marsh families and staff said even the possibility of closure has caused anxiety and uncertainty.
Speaker after speaker described White Marsh as more than a building, calling it a family and a model of sustained academic excellence.
Teachers Question Closure Proposal
Karen Myers, a first-grade teacher at White Marsh Elementary School, thanked the superintendent for recommending a pause but questioned how the proposal was introduced.
“I sincerely appreciate the superintendent’s decision not to move forward with closure at this time and to allow two years to evaluate enrollment trends and growth opportunities,” Myers said. “That thoughtful pause is meaningful to our staff and community.”
At the same time, Myers said, “I am surprised and disappointed by how this possibility was introduced and communicated.”
Myers said that White Marsh’s 2016 Blue Ribbon designation and the current five-star rating with the Maryland State Department of Education are proof that it is a top-performing school, and she questioned the projected financial savings tied to a possible closure.
“I also have questions about the projected $1.5 million in annual savings following closure, particularly in light of the additional staffing and administrative needs that will likely arise at the receiving schools,” Myers said. “Given the significant impact such a decision would have on students, families and staff, it is important that all factors be carefully and transparently considered.”
Second-grade teacher Harry Arnold from White Marsh Elementary School questioned the board and expressed his uncertainty.
“What are we doing here? I genuinely do not understand how the idea of closing White Marsh can even be brought up, let alone be considered,” Arnold said. “This school has been a top-performing school in our county for years. I ask you, what message are you sending to our students, if a high-performing, deeply connected school community is on the chopping block?”
Arnold called the school a “family,” recounting his own experience as a former student who later returned to teach there. He said the performance, relationships and community at White Marsh were more valuable than projected savings from shuttering the school.
“Please stop talking about closing White Marsh,” Arnold said. “Whether it be now, two years from now or five years from now.”
Jennifer Cord, a fifth-grade teacher who has taught at White Marsh Elementary School since 1998 and was recognized as a St. Mary’s County Public Schools teacher of the year in 2019-20, said that the school’s culture is “grounded in joy, accountability and care.”
“White Marsh is a place where children are truly known, where adults notice if something is off, where children take risks, find their voice and believe in themselves,” Cord said. “That culture shapes our educators too.”
Cord said reallocating more than 30% of elementary students under countywide redistricting proposals would have consequences beyond balancing facility utilization rates. She said shifting routines and forcing children to establish new relationships with adults during elementary years can be disruptive to early development.
“Moving students to simply reach an 88% utilization number may balance buildings on paper, but does not automatically create opportunity or equity,” Cord said. “It takes time to understand students and build trust — stability during foundational years matters. If we believe relationships drive results, then we must weigh more than the age of a building.”
Principal Warns Of Student Anxiety
White Marsh Principal Julie Steele described the emotional toll the discussion has taken on students.
“It hurts my heart when I’ve had students ask me, ‘Are they going to close my school?’ And I don’t know what to tell them,” Steele said. “We teach our bears every day to be problem solvers. I’m asking you, the leaders of this district, to do the same.”
Steele urged board members to visit the campus before making any decision and said White Marsh should be celebrated for its history of student success.
“My invitation to you still stands for you to walk our halls during the school day before you make a final decision,” Steele said. “Make sure you see our building and witness first-hand what makes this school so special.”
Staff Share Generational Ties
White Marsh kindergarten teacher Courtney Feustel spoke about her father, a former White Marsh principal, and her family’s multigenerational connection to the school.
“When I was 10 years old, my dad was appointed principal at White Marsh. As a child, I had the privilege of watching him shape the school into the community it is today,” Feustel said. “The school was his second home.”
Feustel said that she has taught at White Marsh for 16 years and that the school continues to earn some of the best scores in St. Mary’s County. She described how the staff goes above and beyond, and why she chose to have her children at White Marsh, even though they are zoned for a newer and larger school.
“As a true community school, we serve families who have attended White Marsh for generations,” Feustel said. “We know our students and their stories — our small school model ensures that no child slips through the cracks.”
Students and Parents Describe Community Impact
Brooke, a White Marsh fourth grader, told board members she does not want her school to close.
“I do not want our school to close because we’re the only five-star school in St. Mary’s County,” Brooke said. “We are a small school, but a strong school.”
Brooke added, “Don’t shut down our school. Our school is the only school I want to go to.”
Juliana, a former White Marsh student, read a letter from her mother describing why their family moved to St. Mary’s County so their children could attend the school.
“White Marsh is not only a school, it is a village and family,” Juliana read. “Within three months of being at White Marsh, my daughter went from not being able to read sight words to actually reading chapter books.”
White Marsh parent Brittany Carson urged the board to look beyond utilization data, arguing that the impact of closing White Marsh would extend far beyond enrollment charts.
Carson shared her personal experience from 2021, when she underwent emergency surgery. During her recovery — which left her temporarily unable to walk and with lasting physical and cognitive disabilities — she said White Marsh staff and families stepped in to support her children.
“When I couldn’t take care of myself in order to be a parent, White Marsh was there,” Carson said. “When I couldn’t cook for my children or help with their homework, White Marsh was there.”
Carson described teachers and staff bringing meals, groceries and activities for her children, and even taking them on outings to provide relief during that difficult period.
“They showed my children the true meaning of the word community,” Carson said. “The staff go far above and beyond their job descriptions, volunteering significant time and effort toward true compassion for the growth and development of local families.”
Carson warned that closing the school would have ripple effects beyond the classroom.
“Closing White Marsh Elementary School poses a negative impact on this county by hurting not only the staff, but the students, parents, families and community as a whole,” Carson said.
Another White Marsh parent with two children currently enrolled, Brittany Cornelius, said her family has intentionally built its life around White Marsh Elementary School, describing the school as a multigenerational anchor in their community.
“My kids’ father walked these same halls years ago and was taught by some of the very teachers who are still there today,” Cornelius said. “Years later, White Marsh has become a second home for our family.”
Cornelius said that while the building may be older, the school’s culture is what matters most.
“Closing the school would be a disservice to the community,” Cornelius said. “Though the building is old, the love, dedication and care in those walls are more than enough to sustain it.”
Cornelius and other parents asked the board to fully fund White Marsh Elementary School and invest in needed improvements rather than close the campus.
Board To Continue Reviewing Enrollment
White Marsh Elementary has been identified in the county’s utilization study as a potential closure candidate due to low enrollment levels and facility age. During earlier board discussions, members said they would monitor enrollment and growth patterns before making any final decision.
At the Feb. 18 hearing, speakers said even a delayed closure would create ongoing uncertainty and unnecessary anxiety.
Several asked the St. Mary’s County Board of Education and the St. Mary’s County commissioners to fully fund White Marsh Elementary School’s operations budget and invest in improvements rather than shuttering the high-performing campus.
For the White Marsh community, the message delivered Tuesday night was consistent and unified: preserve the school’s culture, stability and legacy.
“White Marsh school has been my past, my present, and hopefully it’s still my future,” Feustel said.
School Cheer Echoes Through Hearing
While the community was addressing a potential closure of White Marsh Elementary School, teachers, parents and students stood in solidarity with Principal Steele and shared their school cheer with the board.
“We are the White Marsh Bears. Strong and mighty White Marsh Bears. Respectful, responsible, ready to learn. Gonna raise my hand and wait my turn. Never a quitter, always a learner. We are the White Marsh Bears. Roar!”
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Close White Marsh Elementary School and move Julie Steel to Park Hall Elementary School.
Why do we need 5 elementary schools within 20 miles of each other?
White Marsh and Lettie dent are quite literally a couple miles apart on opposite sides of rt 5 and 6.
Why not offer those same programs at other schools too? This doesn’t result in any savings leaving only one school to close or not close. What of the cuts to staff and closing buildings that need excessive work or low attendance? What we need is to get another high school because these kids at high school level are riding buses 30 minutes or more in order to reach their school.
Hmmmmm sounds like favoritism at its best.