June 28, 2021
For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Office of Communications
301-952-6001
communications@pgcps.org
UPPER MARLBORO, MD — Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) will break ground on six new schools this week to address growing enrollment, a middle school seat deficit and rapidly aging buildings. Through its Blueprint Schools initiative, PGCPS is the first public school system in the nation to leverage a full-scope alternative financing model to design, build, finance and maintain a multi-school construction program.
Groundbreakings for all six schools are slated for Monday, June 28 through Wednesday, June 30, beginning with the new Walker Mill Middle School in Capitol Heights followed by ceremonies for a new Adelphi middle school, replacements for Drew-Freeman, Hyattsville and Kenmoor middle schools and a new K-8 academy in Fort Washington.
The Blueprint Schools initiative is supported by Prince George’s County Education & Community Partners (PGCECP), a consortium including Fengate Asset Management, Gilbane Development Company, Gilbane Building Company, Stantec and Honeywell. It typically takes seven years from planning to building a school. Alternative financing offers an opportunity to cut that time in half to deliver long overdue schools.
“The Blueprint Schools initiative accelerates the construction of new schools to fully support 21st century teaching and learning,” said Dr. Monica Goldson, Chief Executive Officer. “As a school system, we have made tremendous strides in our long-range facility planning to advance from primarily emergency repair projects towards a major modernization program that addresses the needs of our oldest schools.”
Construction on all six schools will begin this summer with completion set for July 2023.
"This first-in-the-nation partnership is creating good-paying construction jobs, investment in the local economy for years to come, and will ultimately result in state-of-the-art, innovative learning environments for students and families," said Paul Choquette, Executive Vice President, Gilbane Building Company. "As developer and design-builder for these schools, Gilbane is proud to be a part of this critical initiative, championed and led by community leaders. Students deserve safe, healthy and sustainable schools — they deserve the very best — and that's exactly what we intend to deliver."
The project also features a commitment to community investment, including a $1 million endowed fund supporting scholarships, student internships, mentoring opportunities and apprenticeships valued at $4.7 million. In addition, at least 30 percent of total eligible costs of the program will go towards minority-owned businesses, community-based enterprises and small businesses, furthering the creation of county-based jobs.
“We are Prince George’s Proud that our school system can be a model for the nation in school construction as we work to replace our aging infrastructure,” said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “Greatness grows in Prince George’s County, and our bright and talented children deserve high-quality learning environments that are befitting of their dignity. With this innovative partnership, we are making the critical investments needed to help develop our County’s next generation of leaders.”
“A week of groundbreakings for six new schools in our community is a testament of our collective commitment to educational excellence for our students, marks the beginning of a new era of school construction in Prince George’s County, and offers a shining example of the educational and economic opportunities made possible through this unique public-private partnership,” said County Council Chair Calvin S. Hawkins, II. “We are excited for this historic moment.”
The second-largest school system in the state, PGCPS has the second-oldest buildings in Maryland. More than half of the 208 schools are over 50 years old. Coupled with the school system’s capital improvement program, a total of nine schools will be under construction over the next three years.
For more information on the Blueprint Schools initiative, visit www.pgcpsblueprintschools.com.
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