3 new schools open in Baltimore
Almost 2,000 students in Baltimore arrived at new school buildings Monday morning as the city school system unveiled three new elementary/middle school campuses.
WBAL-TV reports that the new campuses—Bay Brook, Calvin M. Rodwell and John Ruhrah—are the result of a long-term plan to replace old and underused buildings called the 21st Century School Buildings program, which is paid for by the state and managed by the Maryland Stadium Authority.
"State of the art, innovative. I'm just so excited. I can't wait until they come in to see it," said Dana Hillman, a teacher at Calvin Rodwell.
Work crews spent the better part of the weekend touching up the new school facilities.
"Super excited," says Samuel Rather II, principal of Calvin Rodwell. "My kids deserve this, they deserved a long time ago, so I'm just happy we are at this point where we are getting ready to get it done."
Plans are in the works to build 14 additional new schools in the city. It's a project that's already bringing smiles to teachers and students.
From the start, the Stadium Authority has taken the lead in managing the $1 billion school renovation and school replacement program. The success of the Baltimore City program has gotten the attention of Gov. Larry Hogan and Democratic lawmakers. Both are now promising to lobby for similar programs statewide.
In two years, more than a dozen schools have gone up around the city. All of the Baltimore City programs are set to be completed in 2021.
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