District 9, Prince George's Public Schools Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

District 9 Community,

In Honor of Women's History Month

 

 

County Council Host FY2022 Budget Process Virtual Town Hall

On Tuesday, March 21, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., the County Council will host the Budget Process Virtual Town Hall, for the County’s FY 2022 Operating and Capital Budgets. To sign-up to speak or share a comment, please got to Speak or Comment at Town Hall. For more details, please go to More Budget Information. To view the town hall, please go to View Virtual Town Hall.

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COVID-19 Information and Vaccine Updates

To view the County’s latest updated COVID-19 information and vaccine updates, please view the County’s latest informational bulletin, please go to COVID-19 Information.

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Prince George’s County Relaunches its Emergency Rental Assistance Program

On Thursday, March 4, Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will relaunch its Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which will offer relief to landlords, on behalf of renters experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Landlords of multi-family, single-family, condominium and cooperative rental properties with eligible tenants suffering from financial difficulties or loss of income, as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis, are eligible to apply if they hold a valid County rental license. Landlords may apply for each tenant’s delinquent rental payments, beginning on or after April 1, 2020, for up to 12 months rental payments. The monthly amount of assistance is based on the actual rent value, minus all late fees, interest, and other costs associated with the tenant’s default.

For a landlord to apply for funding on behalf of their tenants, the tenants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1) Have a valid lease agreement in their name;

2) Tenant’s annual income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and adjusted for household size; and

3) Household has a COVID-19 triggering event such as household/tenant qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19.

If landlords are unwilling to apply for the ERAP, tenants may apply directly for rental and/or utility payment assistance. Tenants can only apply for up to 6 months of delinquent rent beginning on or after April 1, 2020. Tenants can also apply for assistance with delinquent utility bills. For tenant applications:

• Tenants will not need to provide a Social Security number or birth certificate to apply
• Rental assistance will be paid directly to the landlord or management company on behalf of the tenant through ACH direct deposit. Utility assistance will be paid directly to the utility company, on behalf of the tenant
• Tenants will be required to submit supporting documentation, with their application to prove their eligibility

DHCD is administering this program through two online portals, one for landlord applications and one for tenant applications. Instructions for each portal are available on DHCD’s ERAP. The Prince George’s County ERAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury and the through the federally funded Community Development Block Grant Program, via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Since the Emergency Rental Assistance Program was first launched in May 2020, DHCD has distributed more than $10 million in emergency rental assistance to Prince George’s County residents.  For more information, please go to Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

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Prince George’s County Public Schools Update, from CEO Dr. Goldson

Student Achievement

Many of our students have struggled during virtual learning, and data has shown that subgroups of learners need additional support beyond what can be offered remotely. Class failure rates provide some insight into our challenges with engaging students during this time. While the number of African American students failing classes has declined since last year, the rates are still too high, especially at the secondary level. In addition, class failure rates have increased among our English language learners. These academic challenges are not unique. Similar learning gaps have played out in school systems across the region, state, and nation, during this pandemic. The school system is using this data to help inform work around one-on-one literacy and mathematics tutoring, summer interventions, and individually-paced high school instruction.

 

The school system encourages parents to take advantage of resources offered through schools and the Department of Family and School Partnerships.

 

Family Survey

More than 30 percent of the families, who responded, indicated their students will return to school for hybrid instruction. Starting Monday, March 1, schools will reach out to any families who have not responded to the survey for confirmation of their plans. 

 

Parent Support Centers

Beginning Monday, March 1, the distance learning Parent Support Centers will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. All appointments must be scheduled online, by visiting Parents' Center. For more information, please email parent.supportcenter@pgcps.org.

 

Building Preparations

The school systems administrators, educators and building services teams are busy preparing our buildings for students and staff. They are using the new CDC protocols for cleaning and sanitizing, posting signage throughout school buildings to help guide our learners, upgraded air filtration systems with MERV-13 air filters in every school and office building, and stocked warehouses with personal protective equipment, for students and staff. Each school has a COVID Compliance Committee, which is composed of numerous staff members to weekly address health and safety issues and needs. The school system is also continuing to make vaccination clinics available to employees. 

 

For additional details about distance learning and hybrid teaching and learning, please go to can PGCPS Re-Opening Updates.

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Assistance Funds Remain to Help Pay Energy Bills

With millions of dollars in assistance funding available for customers who may be struggling to pay their energy bill, Pepco says customers need to act now to secure these essential funds, while they last. Pepco works closely with its community partners to connect customers with grants and programs like LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP provides grants in varying amounts based on a household's income size, type of fuel, and type of dwelling, with no pay back required. Customers who may have never qualified for energy assistance may now qualify based on their current financial situation. Customers in Maryland could qualify for more than $1,000 in assistance.

Maryland customers can apply for LIHEAP energy assistance through the Department of Human Services website, or by calling the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Home Energy Programs at 1-800-332-6347.

 

In addition to helping customers secure energy assistance, Pepco offers expanded billing and payment options that include eliminating down payment/security deposit requirements, extending payment periods for balances, and connecting more customers with energy assistance funds. The most important step that customers who are past due on their Pepco bill can take is to contact the company at 202-833-7500 or pepco.com/Help as soon as possible. Customers should never wait until they are in crisis to contact the company.

Additional energy assistance for Maryland residents includes:

• Electric Universal Service Program helps eligible customers pay for a portion of their current electric bill. The Arrearage Retirement Assistance program helps customers with large, past due electric and gas bills. If eligible, customers may receive forgiveness of up to $2,000 toward their past due bill. The Utility Service Protection Program is designed to help low-income families during the heating season. Information regarding these programs can be found on the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Home Energy Programs website or by calling 1-800-332-6347.
• Prince George's County residents may qualify for energy assistance from Mary's Center by calling 202-545-2024 or going directly to maryscenter.org.

Maryland customers will also have access to an additional $83 million dollars in energy assistance through the RELIEF Act of 2021 that was signed by Gov. Larry Hogan last month. Pepco encourages customers who have the financial ability to help support those in need, by contributing to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund or the Gift of Energy program. Learn how at pepco.com/Help.

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Community Spotlight

 

Today, we feature the great work of James Crudup Sr., Mayor of the Town of Eagle Harbor.  Mayor Crudup has been active of Prince George's County, for over 50 years. During that time, he has worked very hard to address environmental concerns, such as flooding, riverfront erosion, and raising residents' expectations for a more environmentally sustainable community.  Mayor Crudup has personally invested in environmental justice issues and is diligent in protecting the community from environmental health hazards such as coal emissions, as well as both surface and groundwater contamination issues. He has also been avid in celebrating and protecting the town's history and heritage as a freestanding, historically African-American town, with an amazing history of durability and struggle going back to its founding in the 1920s.

Under Mayor Crudup's leadership, the Town of Eagle Harbor achieved the Maryland state designation as a "Sustainable Community," which garnered over 1 million dollars in state grants, to repair local streams and town infrastructure. He has been active in regional and national forums spreading the word and sharing his knowledge with peers and colleagues. Mayor Crudup has participated as a panelist in the Taking Nature Black Conference in Bethesda, and the Black Communities Conference in North Carolina, which featured African American elected officials to address various environmental and community-based challenges.  Council Member Harrison thanks Mayor Crudup for his commit to serving the Town of Eagle Harbor and Prince George's County.

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Sustainable Maryland’s virtual Sustainability Summit

Are you a Prince George's County homeowners or civic association resident or board member? Do you care about your community's health and want to keep your neighborhood clean and "green"? Sustainable Maryland invites the community to attend Prince George's County’s virtual Sustainability Summit for Homeowners & Civic Associations, on Tuesday, March 30, from 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about how to organize their communities to become sustainable and hear from community Green Teams. Presentations will include University of Maryland's Sustainable Maryland program, County staff, and local Green Teams. For more information and to register, please go to Sustainable Maryland.

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Upcoming Senior's Grab & Go (Groceries and Meals)

Friday, March 5, at 12:30 p.m.

• Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, 9832 Piscataway Rd. Clinton, Md.

Saturday, March 6, at 11:00 a.m.

• Love AME Church, 1401 Mercantile Lane Upper Marlboro, Md.
• First Baptist Highland Park, 6801 Sheriff Rd. Landover, MD

Sunday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m.

• Community of Hope AME Church, 3701 Branch Ave. Temple Hills, Md.

 

 

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Please wear your mask, frequently wash your hands, and practice social distancing.

Council Member Sydney J. Harrison, District 9