Cutting the Ribbon on Five New Schools
Dear Prince Georgians:
The most profound obligation we have in government is to invest in the future of our children. That’s why I’m so Prince George’s Proud that last week, we cut the ribbon on five new schools that are now open this school year: Hyattsville Middle School, Drew-Freeman Middle School, Sonia Sotomayor Middle School, Kenmoor Middle School, and Walker Mill Middle School. An additional school, Colin Powell Academy, opens later this year. These schools were built in just two and a half years through our innovative Alternative Construction Finance (ACF) program, helping us deliver on our promise to build new, state-of-the-art schools quickly for our children.
The ACF program is a public-private partnership that allows us to build new schools quicky and at a cost savings for the County. We are the first county in the nation to use this innovative approach to address our $8.5 billion school construction backlog. It has allowed us to build six new schools in just two and a half years, a process that would normally take 12 years to complete under traditional school construction models. Now, as we work to break ground on another eight new schools next year, jurisdictions across the State and nation are looking at our ACF program and asking how we were able to build this many new schools so quickly.
When we created this program, we also promised that we would help create generational wealth for local, small, and minority-owned businesses, and I’m proud to say we have delivered on that promise as well. The total funding for the first phase of the ACF program was $395.1 million, with a 30% minority business enterprise (MBE) participation requirement. We exceeded that requirement, with 33% of all funding going to MBEs.
In addition, the school system worked to bring labor unions into the fold through the ACF program, incorporating union participation through multiple contracts. In fact, two of the largest individual contracts were awarded to Mona Electric and W.G. Tomko, providing electrical and mechanical and plumbing services, respectively. These union contracts have provided numerous employment opportunities for our local union workers.
Each of the new schools under the ACF program are equipped with science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) labs (3-D printers, etchers, robotics); a video production studio; smart boards in every classroom; voice amplification systems; parent resource rooms; community clinics; media centers; state-of-the-art dance, choral, orchestra, drama, and band rooms; state-of-the-art kitchens; art studios; a gymnatorium (stage in gym); multipurpose fields, and more.
Each new school is also solar and electric vehicle (EV) charging ready, with solar installation anticipated by Fall 2024. In addition, Hyattsville Middle School is equipped with a black box theater to support its Creative and Performing Arts Program and Colin Powell Academy will also feature an elementary library, four pre-kindergarten classrooms, an auxiliary gym, and innovation lab.
I’m proud of the work we have done over the last several years to get to this point, where we are celebrating six new schools opening this school year in record time. Overall, we have broken ground on 10 new schools in the past three years, and I’m excited that we are continuing to move forward with our plans to break ground on another eight schools next year.
Our children deserve to learn in school buildings that are not falling apart and befitting their dignity. While we still have work to do, I can promise you is this: we are not stopping or slowing down, and we will deliver on our promise to continue building new schools, because our children deserve nothing less.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New Hyattsville Middle School
New School Construction
 Prince George’s County has some of the oldest school buildings in the entire state, and at the start of the Alsobrooks Administration, we had an $8.5 billion school construction backlog. We recognized the need to create quality learning environments that our students deserve, breaking ground on a total of 10 new schools in three years, with eight more to come next year.
Salary Increases
 Our principals, teachers, and support staff make a significant impact on our students, their families, and our communities. That’s why we worked with former CEO Dr. Monica Goldson to ensure every employee in Prince George’s County Public Schools received a salary increase, representing the greatest salary increase in over 20 years.
Historic Education Funding
 Throughout the Alsobrooks Administration, we have remained committed to supporting our youth and providing them with the high-quality education that they deserve. We have provided a historic amount of funding to our school system, $14.2 billion over the last five years, helping ensure that our students, teachers, and staff have the resources that they need.
Expanding Health Services
 We have expanded telehealth services for students to ensure they have access to appropriate health and wellness services so that they are able to thrive. These services include mental health, dental, and vision, and are offered regardless of insurance coverage.
|
