Oct 22

Oct 22 Welcome To The New Schools

Council Chair Todd Turner Statement on the Councils Final Approval to Legislation Addressing Alternative School Construction Model for Prince George’s County Public Schools

By Todd M. Turner

Todd Turner is the chair of the Prince George’s County Council.

Since this writing, the Prince George’s County Public Schools Board voted to approve the plan for alternative school construction.

This week’s Prince George’s County Council’s action adopting CR-100-2020, as amended, provides final approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the Alternative Financing Construction program, a multi-year public-private partnership to build six new public schools in the County and provide upgraded learning environments for approximately 8,000 students over the next four years.

With today’s vote, the County Council continues to make critical investments in our children, their families and our county, and reinforces school construction as a priority. Prince George’s County, through a joint commitment between Prince George’s County Schools CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson and our school system, the Board of Education, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the County Council and state lawmakers, is leading the way for this first of its kind school construction model in Maryland and the nation.

The Council’s final approval of the MOU sets the structure for the council to fulfill its budget and oversight obligations as we move closer to design and construction on these six new or renovated County schools. While this novel, innovative and collaborative public-private partnership approach to building schools in our County is an exciting undertaking, we expect to meet some additional opportunities and challenges along the way. The MOU adopted by the council will guide the County’s collective roles and responsibilities as we proceed down this path.

We strongly encourage the endorsement of this historic project by the Board of Education when it convenes for a scheduled vote on the matter. For the benefit of our children and residents, we look forward to taking this journey together.