Patterson Park Public Charter School will use $50,000 in state bond funding this summer to complete the construction and renovation of its facilities, says Patterson Park Public Charter School Executive Director Ed Rutkowski.
Specifically, the funds will be used to renovate the facade of the original St. Elizabeth Church on East Baltimore Street facing Patterson Park, a building purchased by the school and used as its cafeteria, gym, library, tech lab and business offices.
Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation through the
National Trust for Historic Preservation provided matching funds of $50,000 toward the renovation.
"It's great for the neighborhood to have it looking good…we're restoring it to its former glory," Rutkowski says.
The school acquired the St. Elizabeth Church building in 2008. In 2009, planning began for the expansion and improvement of the school site including renovations to the church and the construction of a new middle school building.
Since then, the state issued $13.7 million of tax exempt bonds, and that money was used for the acquisition of the original church building, and construction of middle school building which includes six classroom, an act facility and a science lab.
The renovation of the facade will complete construction of the school site. The facade renovations required the removal of lead paint, necessitating additional funding to complete the project.
The school removed the form stone on the front of the cafeteria building, and plans to restore the facade to its original appearance. The church was built in 1895.
Representatives from Baltimore’s 46th Legislative District helped the school secure the funding, Rutkowski says.
The school serves 621 students and their families in grades pre-K through 8.
Source: Ed Rutkowski, executive director of Patterson Park Public Charter School
Writer: Alexandra Wilding,
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