“This is not just a day that represents a new building, but it represents a new start, a new beginning and a new chapter in our school,” Springhill Lake Elementary School (SHLES) Principal Trena Wilson said on July 9, during the long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony for the school’s replacement building.
The groundbreaking marked the beginning of the demolition of the nearly 60-year-old building and the $82 million construction of the new school building. Students and faculty faced many obstacles in the old building, including overcrowding and aging infrastructure. According to data collected from last year’s enrollment, the building was essentially one-third over capacity, with 803 students in a space designed for 605 students.
Features of the new building include an increased capacity of 850 students, 43 core classrooms, a controlled entry vestibule, indoor air quality and four “academic neighborhoods” with smaller learning spaces on either side of the building’s central gathering space.
According to Maryland State Senator Alonzo Washington, who was in attendance on Thursday, officials have been advocating for this change for almost 14 years.
“During one of my first meetings with the Greenbelt City Council many years ago, I repeatedly asked this question: ‘Why are we not asking PGCPS for a new Springhill Lake Elementary School?’” Washington recalled. “I remember there was fierce opposition, even within our own community.”
Holding back tears, Greenbelt Councilmember Jenni Pompi described the groundbreaking as “a long time coming,” reflecting on the years of advocacy that led to the project.
“This school will stand as a testament to what can happen when a community refuses to give up,” she said.
School History
Wilson noted the similarities between the current construction and the school’s history. In 1966, the school’s opening was delayed, and students attended classes at Center School, now the Community Center, and kindergarten classes were held at a local church (see the August 25, 1966 issue). Now, for the next two years of construction, students will be temporarily relocated to a “swing space” in the former Dora Kennedy French Immersion School building. This location was chosen because of its proximity to the old building, allowing students who walk to school to continue doing so.
“History has a remarkable way of repeating itself,” Wilson said.
Other speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy, Greenbelt Mayor Emmett Jordan, members of the Greenbelt City Council and two fifth graders who attend SHLES.
Students’ Perspective
While officials shared their experiences working together on the project and what it will mean for the community, Genesis Ramos and Dicardo Dacosta, the two students, shared personal memories from their time at SHLES, providing the audience with a reminder of who this work was really for.
“This school has helped me become braver, believe in myself and keep trying when things are hard,” Ramos said. “Part of me is sad to see the school go, but I know this just means new beginnings.”
Dacosta said the new school would give students “a safe, clean and comfortable place to learn” and show them that “our education matters.”
Despite the Challenges
Several officials emphasized the grit of the students and faculty who experienced the old building and noted that they did not allow the challenging conditions of the old facility to interfere with learning and teaching. Washington stated that students are improving in mathematics and English, noting that nearly half of English language learners are making progress toward English proficiency. He also acknowledged that the school employs 12 National Board Certified teachers, a point that drew applause from the audience.
“When we talk about the challenges facing this school, we should never confuse challenges with a lack of ability,” Washington said.
Alsobrooks acknowledged the shortcomings of the aging facility, saying, “Our students were forced to attend schools in buildings that, in my opinion, did not always reflect their dignity.”
Springhill Lake Elementary is one of 18 schools that will be delivered over a six-year period through Prince George’s County’s public-private partnership school construction program, according to Alsobrooks.
Many speakers closed their remarks by looking ahead to the project’s completion, saying they hoped to return in two years for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Charlotte Ormond is a University of Maryland student at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism interning with the Greenbelt News Review.
