About 40 parents and students, many representing Eastern Technical High School in Essex, crowded into Baltimore County's school board meeting room Tuesday night over concerns about potential changes to the county's magnet school programs.
The school system is expected to release a magnet task force report and recommendations soon, but Eastern Tech parents who spoke before the board said they fear some of the National Blue Ribbon school's 10 magnet programs will be moved.
Doris Hitt, parent of an Eastern Tech student, said the community had collected 1,400 signatures on a petition asking the board not to remove magnet programs. She said that strict rules at a series of public meetings around the county prevented parents from being able to fully express concerns about their schools.
Parents also said the task force studying magnet programs in the county has not included members from their PTA.
State Senator Katherine Klausmeier, who represents portions of Baltimore County, said she came to Tuesday's board meeting to support the many interested parents.
"They are here to let you all know that they love their magnet schools and their magnet programs," she said.