Delay urged in school plan: Foundations fear plan to close city buildings too hasty, ambitious.

Byline: Sara Neufeld

Feb. 19--Three of Baltimore's largest education foundations are questioning whether the city schools are equipped to handle an ambitious school closing plan proposed last week, noting concerns about such things as classroom space and bus routes. The plan involves moving more than 5,300 students from five school buildings to 19 other schools in August. Representatives of the Abell Foundation, the Fund for Educational Excellence and the Open Society Institute met with schools Chief Executive Officer Bonnie S. Copeland late last week and urged her to delay some of the closings. The foundations say they are especially worried about the logistics of closing the Southwestern High School complex by summer. School officials acknowledge that they might be rushing things a bit, saying they need to determine whether they've taken on more than they can handle before the school board votes on the plan March 28. Asked about the community concern that the system won't be able to prepare buildings in time to receive the displaced students, schools Chief Operating Officer Eric Letsinger replied, "We all have that…