Training center, French programs may come to shuttered schools
Hite to present recommendations Monday for schools closed earlier this year
Prince George's County Schools Superintendent William Hite Jr. plans to recommend placing a green jobs training center and expanding the French immersion program, among other suggestions, at schools shuttered earlier this year.
The schools —Berkshire Elementary in District Heights, G. Gardner Shugart Middle in Temple Hills, John Carroll Elementary in Landover, John E. Howard Elementary in Capitol Heights, Matthew Henson Elementary in Landover, Middleton Valley Elementary in Temple Hills, Morningside Elementary in Suitland and Owens Road Elementary in Oxon Hill — were closed at the end of the last school year as part of the school system's boundary changes made to level enrollment.
According to the proposal, Matthew Henson Elementary School would become the Green Jobs Training Institute and Cleantech Entrepreneurial Innovation Center.
Spokesman MosesAlexander Greene was unable to immediately answer questions Friday regarding financial aspects of Hite's recommendations.
John Carroll Elementary School would house the offices for the special education, parent advocacy and Head Start departments, and Middleton Valley would house the school system's Planning and Architectural Services Department, according to the proposal.
No plans have been established for Berkshire Elementary, G. Gardner Shugart Middle, Morningside Elementary or Owens Road Elementary, which are listed in the report as "HOLD." However, the newly approved charter school, The Possibility Science Technology Engineering and Math Preparatory Academy and Public Charter School for Boys, has stated a desire to be located at Shugart. Charter school officials hope to work out an agreement by next month to use the school.
In total, the school system reviewed 25 applications for facility use, and meetings were held at each of the closed buildings throughout the fall to gauge public interest.
Applications for Shugart were also received from the French immersion program, Food and Nutritional Services, Turning Point Academy Public Charter School, Imagine Lincoln Public Charter School and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
According to school board documents, expansion of the French immersion program is recommended for approval.
"The financial impact is being analyzed with building location to be designated in one of the ‘HOLD' facilities. Ultimately program expansion hinges upon our ability to initially fund and sustain funding as desired," board documents state.
Hite will discuss his recommendations at Monday's school board meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Sasscer Building, 14201 School Lane, in Upper Marlboro.
E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.
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