Dozens of parents and students rallied during rush hour in Avalon Park Monday night to stop two new charter schools from being built in their neighborhood.

Parents believe the charter schools will pose a safety threat to their children if built in their proposed locations.

"I know people are very concerned about traffic and if nothing else, it’s a topic that needs to be addressed," said Avalon Park parent Jackie Carroll.

The Avalon Charter Concerns group spent several hours getting the word out about signing a community petition that will be presented in the near future to Orange County Commissioners.

Orange County Public Schools said they have a plan in place to ease overcrowding at Avalon Park Middle School. 

The district is building a nearby relief school that will open in 2017. 

However, parents believe that traffic relief may be short-lived if a K-8 charter school moves in across the street on Mailer Boulevard.

“We’re going to be in good shape but now we’re going to have another 1,145 kids straight across the street, so we’ll be right back where we started," Caroll said.

Right now, both charter schools have preliminary approval from Orange County.

However, OCPS is appealing that decision, saying all new schools should be held to the same standard when it comes to school site size and selection.

OCPS contends both schools wouldn’t have enough parking or space for parents to drop off and pick up their children.

The district also said it would have a negative traffic impact on nearby public schools. 

“We just don’t need the schools here. We have A-rated schools that are excellent schools, offer great programs. We have relief coming," said Avalon Park parent Diana Heinzman.

“Avalon Park was built with concept of walkability and if we add 2,500 cars in the morning and 2,500 cars in the afternoon, it’s actually going to make it unsafe for our children to walk or bike to school," Heinzman continued.

We reached out to Charter Schools USA and Pinecrest Avalon Academy for comment.

Colleen Reynolds, spokesperson for Charter Schools USA, sent this statement:

“The model we’ve submitted is the same as many charter schools, specifically schools managed by CSUSA. This model has been proven time and time again to be efficient and effective. The start and end times have been staggered and will not affect the nearby public school.

“The ordinance you are referencing does not apply to charter schools due to inequality in how the schools are funded."

Reynolds also commented on OCPS' belief that charter schools and the traditional public schools are not being held to the same county land standards.

“Nor do charter schools and districts schools receive the same funding to build and maintain schools. Charter schools do not receive any funding from local property taxes that are used primarily to fund public school facilities.”

Orange County Commissioners are expected to hear an appeal and possibly vote on the issue on Tuesday, Feb. 16.