001Okay, perfect. Ms. Woolrich, please begin the recording. The time is now 6.31. The time is now 6.31. Good evening. And welcome to the September 17th, 2025 Capital Improvement… Program, public hearing. I am Brandon Jackson, Chairman of the Prince George's County Board of Education. Inform the… to inform the public that Spanish interpretation is available. By clicking on the globe at the bottom of the screen. Miss Ashivadu. Could you assist with translating an announcement in Spanish? To join us live, the hearing is beginning recording. And will be available for later viewing on PGCPS's YouTube channel. For recording purposes, the chairman reminds all to ensure that their microphones are muted when not speaking. The hearing is to receive the input from various individual departments and the public. The board is not conducting business, not taking any action. Nor
002adopting any motions, calling the hearing to order is not business, and adjourning to the hearing is not business. In the line policy 8345 public comment. It is established that the public can register on-site for public hearings until the public is notified that the testimony registration form is closed. Tonight, registration will remain open for the live. Written and video testimony until 6.45 PM. The testimony registration form is currently available on the Prince George's County Board of Education website, or by visiting the link on the screen. Scanning the QR code here. Um, Ms. Woolridge, please give us a roll call. You can't hear me? I will take the roll call, uh, Chairman. Ms. Aja Kaje? Yeah, thanks to Shawna. Dr. Andruffle? Ms. Booster Strother? Mr. Briggs? You're… you're muted, Mr. Briggs. Mrs. Brown? Ms. Gwenz McCants? Dr.
003Moss? Mrs. Olivo? Ms. Walker? Mr. Jackson. Present. Here. And just for the record, uh, Mr. Briggs? Okay, I see him. So, um, there's 7 members present. But no pouring is needed. Thank you. The chairman recognizes Dr. Joseph for the capital improvement plan presentation. Well, good evening, Chairman Jackson, members of the board, and community members. Thank you for joining us this evening for the September 17th, 2025 CIP hearing. Our CIP is a 6-year plan that allocates funding for school construction, modernization. In system-wide facility needs. In Maryland, only the first fiscal year is appropriated in the annual budget. But the full 6-year plan provides continuity and transparency for long-term projects. The FY2027 through 2032 CIP is a continuation of the FY2026. Through 2031 plan. As PGCPS advances several new schools and major modernizations. Projects that require 4-7
004years to complete. This year's request is solely a continuation of funding, with no new initiatives introduced. All priorities remain aligned to the educational facilities master plan. We look forward to hearing feedback from our community members. Your input's essential… is an essential part of our decision-making process. I'll now turn it over. To Dr. Coleman, our Chief Operating Officer, was to bring brief comments, and thank you again for joining us. And thank you again, Dr. Joseph, and good evening, Board Chair Jackson, Board of Education members. Parents, guardians, members of the community, and staff. Again, joining me today, uh, we are excited, uh, to hear and listen to public comments on the proposed CIP. The school system administration will not respond to any comments or questions posed during the public hearing portion. The intention is to hear directly
005from parents, guardians, and other community members. Joining me this evening, uh, is the Associate Superintendent for Supporting Services, Mr. Jason Washington. The Director of Capital Programs, Mrs. Shayla Jackson. The project management supervisor, Mr. William Smith. And Capital Planning Supervisor Mrs. Kayla Anthony. So again, we look forward to hearing from your comments, and we… are yielding back time to begin the process. Y'all hear me? Hello? Okay. Sorry about that. Okay. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman recognizes the registered speakers for public comment. To our registered speakers, you are allotted 3 minutes to share your remarks. Speaking time may not be transferred to another individual. The board will not agree to engage in any dialogue during this portion of the hearing. Speakers are expected to refrain from using profanity or derogatory language. A warning will be issued once.
006Continued misconduct may result in the speaker being muted or removed from the hearing. To support a professional and courteous environment, speakers are encouraged to refer to individuals by their titles, such as chair. Board member, superintendent, or principal, rather than by name. This evening, the board received four. Live public commenters. Requests, um… And we received 13 written testimonies. The chair encourages those who were not able to speak. To submit their comments and writing to testimony at pgcps.org. Again. The email address is testimony at pgcps.org. Our first speaker tonight is Willa… adrenaline, uh, forgive me if I pronounced the last name wrong. Individuals speaking on High Point Renovations. Chairman, um, there actually, for corrections, five, uh, registrants. Mr. Enderlin is not here yet, uh, but Ms. Stephanie Blackwell is. Okay, the chairman recognizes Ms. Stephanie Blackwell, speaking
007on disability issues advisory board. Good evening. I am Stephanie Blackwell, the chair of the Disability Issue… Issue Arous Reward. I'm here to address important areas of concern for students receiving special education services within Prince George's County Public School. As a continued bill, as… As we continue to build and improve the facilities for our students, we must ensure that the physical environment create our accessible. Inclusive and supportive to every child learning experience. First, I urge the board to prioritize the integration of assistive technology and flexibility. Infrastructure to enter our school designs. This means incorporating features that accommodate students who are hard of hearing, as well as. Flexible workstations that can be adjusted for the height and mobility. By doing so, we can ensure that students are not. Displaced into separate learning environments. But rather remain integrated
008with their peers, fostering inclusion and inclusion. And the community. Equally important is the consideration accessory-focused designs for students with autism. On the autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorder. The environment can often… often be overwhelming to address this. We must incorporate. Incorporate non-flickering, um, LED lights to reduce the visual assimilation, as well as sound… deparing materials to create a more calming atmosphere. Sensory knocks. Where students can decompress. When needed. Should we be a part of the design, helping to minimize the distractions and provide a safe place. For students to regroup. Another critical issue is accessibility as a play area. We must ensure that playgrounds are inclusive and accessible, incorporating sensory play elements and. Elements and equipment that meet the needs of those children, the mobility challenge. This will allow all students to encourage and learn
009through play, fostering an environment where no child is excluded. Accessibility should be extended beyond the classroom and the playgrounds. Backstage areas, locker rooms, and other support spaces must be designed with ramps. Would lift to ensure that all students, regardless of their physical needs, can actively participate in school activities. We cannot continue to have facilities without. These basic accommodations, especially when our students are performers, athletes. And leaders in the community. Additionally, I would like to address the importance of strategic planning in location, construction of new facilities. When considering new schools or improvement, the plan must take into account. Specific needs of students in specialized programs, we need to ensure that transportation routes are analyzed and minimized long bus rides, particularly for students significantly medical or physical disability. Disabilities. Sas site selection should prioritize equal… Equality assured
010that students, regardless of their needs, have access to resources that they require. Thank you so much. We really appreciate you. Mm-hmm. Thank you. Um… Moving on to our next speaker. Ms. Petra Jones, individual, building update. Needs at Melwood Elementary School. Yes. Good evening, can you hear me? Yes, okay, good evening, everybody. First of all, foremost, thank you for hearing me. Um, this is very much on the spot, but I'm a very concerned, um, parent, um, have a student at. Melwood Elementary School, also a PTA member. Um, I want to bring some of the concerns to your attention. The building is really old. And has, um, massive, um, problems. I'm sorry, I apologize, my English is my second language, so please, please bear with me. Um, we had… we were fortunate enough to have a traffic
011light on Woodyard Road, because that traffic is very intense. But we don't… do not have a left turn into the school parking lot, which have caused several accidents already, and is a concern. Put, uh, concerns for the students crossing the road, because we have only a park, um, an, um, traffic guard till 7.30, which is, I believe, like, 15 minutes. Um, so that is number one, the traffic light into the parking lot. Then the parking lot itself is, um, has severe potholes. We've been trying to get that repay for about 10 years. We've worked on that. Um, a bus loop behind. The school was in planning, but I believe also that went through, like, two administrations so far. And has not been, uh, was not able to do. When the Madison Middle School was, um.
012Repaired the pavement trucks were parked in the parking lot, but we never got to, um, got the parking lot repaved. Uh, also, there's a leak in the roof. Um, there's several leaks in different locations. There is a severe mold smell and middle smell in the school. My, um, my student has severe asthma. When he is in the school, he has, um, severe asthma problems. So when… as soon as you walk in… walk into school, I know Ms. Walker was there last night, it's a… it's an extreme smell that everybody… it's noticeable. You have… your clothes smell severely like mildew, and, um, possibly mold. The heating and air-conditioned system is a problem. Some areas are freezing, some of them are cold. We had the external units. Um, outside in the summertime, they've been removed now because
013they say there's no need for air conditioning. But it's still a problem. The heating and cooling. And a playground as well is a problem, because students got hurt. It's from the 1950s. Students get hurt on the equipment. So it's a… it's also a very big concern on the playground outside. So these are… I probably didn't even cover all the issues, but this is what I've talked to the principal about. And that are very obvious. So the school is probably from the 1970s, as many. School, so please take that in consideration. Thank you, everybody. Apologies, I was saying thank you, Ms. Jones. So, our next speaker is Amber… Comer Jamison… Jameson, individuals speaking on building standards. Good evening, everyone. My name is Amber Comer Jamison. I have 3 children in PGCPS. To in middle school, Benjamin
014Tasker, one in Kenilworth Elementary in Bowie. Um, I wanted to bring to the panel. The concerns for the lack of standards in our schools. Um, our schools in Bowie are some of the oldest schools, and I'm sure this is a same old song that you've heard. However, I think it's pretty ridiculous. That our houses sell for so much money, and yet our children go to schools. That you can't drink out of the water fountains, because there's lead in the pipes. There's asbestos in the flooring. There's leaky ceilings. Where teachers literally have buckets. Catching the water. Um, my students, my twins, who were in third grade at the time, literally had to learn in their winter jackets. Because there was no heat. In their classroom. There was no heat, and there still is no heat in
015Kenilworth bathrooms. That's a problem for me. My husband and I bust our butt. To live where we live, and I think it's ridiculous that our money. Is going towards schools. That looks drabby, crusty, musty, there's… Coblets everywhere. There… there should be standards, there should be inspections. Not to mention… my students now who are in Tasker Middle School. They can't go to the bathrooms at certain times, which I understand maybe for safety reasons. Um, and, you know, there's all this… the drop-off situation. At Kenilworth is ridiculous. People have gotten in car accidents. Um, all we could… I mean, we could literally just invest money in putting in, uh. Little… another roundabout in the front of the school for the parents to drop off. It… people are paying out of pocket for car damages. Because of the
016drop-off situation. I just feel like we should have a standard, and we're not meeting it. Thank you so much. Moving on to our next speaker. Ms. Stephanie Jenkins, individual. Advocacy for new playground to meet the standards of students with disabilities and diverse sensory needs. So, good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Stephanie Jenkins, and I represent Overlook Full Spanish Immersion School in Temple Hills, Maryland. I would like to begin with this quote. Play is not a break from learning, it's the soil where growth begins. I am here to advocate for a new playground. Not just as an upgrade, but as an essential investment in student safety and inclusion. Particularly for students with disabilities and diverse sensory needs. The equipment currently in use dates back to at least the late
0171970s. One parent shared that both she and her mother played on the same structures. Her mother, as a student in the late 70s, and she herself in the late 90s. That means three generations have used the same aging equipment. Which compromises both the safety and developmental needs of our students. The playground structures have become visibly corroded and pose safety risk. Students have been advocating for change for years. Photos and videos from students were presented to the board prior to my coming to Overlook. To my understanding, renovation was scheduled prior to COVID. But never came to fruition. This is not just a maintenance issue, it's a daily barrier to safety. Dignity and inclusion. Our current playground lacks safe surfacing and design features that allow children with mobility challenges. And developmental differences to move. Play and belong
018in ways that reflect their unique needs. But the risks don't stop there. The aging equipment and deteriorating structures pose safety hazards to all students. Regardless of ability. Sharp edges, unstable surfaces, and outdated layouts. Increase the likelihood of injury, and limit the freedom of play for everyone. I'm asking that we begin planning a new playground. That reflects universal design principles. Wheelchair accessible paths. Sensory panels, calming zones. And equipment that supports a range of abilities. Every child deserves a space where they can play without risk of injury, and where they're physical. And emotional needs are anticipated with care. A well-designed playground isn't just safer, it's a more welcoming, more empowering, and more reflective. Of the community that we want to build. And I also emailed pictures to the board. Um, citing examples of the aging equipment, and
019also pictures of student injuries as well. I do thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you so much, Ms. Jenkins. Moving on, thank you. Um, thank you to the public commenters for your input tonight. The Department of Capital Improvements will take your comments on their advisement. As they will plan the final CIP. We want to thank you for all joining tonight. The time is now 6.52, and it's September 17th, 2025 CIP public hearing is adjourned. Good nightThank you