Patterson Park Public Charter School (PPPCS) broke ground on a new $13,665.000 middle school building on Monday. The new facility was a result of closing on a $13,665,000 bond issue March 16, 2010 by the Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority. The issue is the first of its kind for a charter school in Maryland and will allow PPPCS to refinance its existing facility and provide funding for the new middle school building.
As the largest traditional public charter school in Maryland, PPPCS enrolls 560 students in grades K-8 and will add a pre-K in fall 2011. The new building will complete the school's campus, fulfilling the vision that began with the school's opening in fall 2005, adding six middle school classrooms and will also contain world class science and art facilities.
The new building's design and construction will follow Baltimore City's Green Building Standards (equivalent to LEEDS silver). It will include solar panels, stormwater irrigation and recycled content materials.
Principal Charles W. Kramer says the building will prove a major advance in the school's unique interdisciplinary curriculum by enhancing the school's science, art and technology instruction.
"The new facility is an important next step in providing superior education in Baltimore," says Ed Rutkowski, spokesman, PPPCS. "Our middle schoolers will have the first-class environment they need."
Founded by community members who wanted educational choice, PPPCS offers all students a broad education. Besides reading, math, science and social studies, all students receive instruction in art, music, Spanish, technology and physical education. The curriculum makes extensive use of Patterson Park, the surrounding community and Baltimore City's rich heritage to widen students' perspectives and to emphasize community service.
Source: Ed Rutkowski, Patterson Park Public Charter School
Writer: Walaika Haskins