Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will not meet with a Washington County woman who opposes the construction of Eastern Primary School on the east end of Hagerstown.

In a letter dated Oct. 27, State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick told Dottie Gruhler of Smithsburg the governor would not accept Gruhler’s request to meet to discuss the school.

Gruhler filed an appeal Oct. 9 that asked the Maryland State Board of Education to halt the construction of Eastern Primary School.

Grasmick also declined to meet with Gruhler, saying in the letter, “I, along with other members of the state board, must remain objective and free from bias so that we may respond fairly to the appeal.”

The Washington County Board of Education approved building Eastern Primary School during a meeting Oct. 6. The school is being built to help alleviate overcrowding in elementary schools across Washington County.

Gruhler and several other parents have said the $25 million school should be built in South County, where overcrowding is an immediate issue.

No one could be reached Wednesday at the Maryland State Department of Education in Baltimore to comment on the status of Gruhler’s appeal.

Gruhler wrote a letter in addition to the appeal asking to meet with O’Malley.