Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Prince George’s County Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Dr. Monica Goldson this week announced the start of construction on six new schools to address growing enrollment, a middle school seat deficit, and rapidly aging buildings.

Prince George’s County Public Schools is the first school system in the nation to leverage a full-scope alternative financing model to design, build, finance, and maintain a multi-school construction program.

While It typically takes seven years from planning to building a school, alternative financing offers an opportunity to cut that time in half. All six schools are set to be completed in July 2023.

“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 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.”

According to Prince George’s County Community Connections:

We were excited to get the legislation passed in Annapolis two years ago, creating the ability to develop a public-private partnership delivery approach, which has allowed Prince George’s County to be a model for school construction across the nation as we build six new schools by summer 2023.

We have put a number of safeguards in place to guarantee the schools are built on time.

For example, all schools must be completed by July 15, 2023, or the developer will face financial penalties for each day the schools are delayed. Our plan also protects taxpayers from cost overruns.

These facilities will be completed sooner than under a traditional plan, bringing new schools that meet the needs of students now. Our partners will be responsible for maintenance, ensuring building conditions meet the highest standards for the next 30 years.

“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.”

Read the latest edition of Community Connections for more information.