Submitted by: Joanne Waszczak
Submitting Department: Legislative
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
title
Update Educational Facilities Task Force Worksheet
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the Mayor and Council change the title of the Educational Facilities Task Force to Educational Facilities Committee and update the worksheet to align with the City’s current and future need for advice and recommendations for school construction and reconstruction sites.
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Summary Background:
The Educational Facilities Task Force (EFTF) was established to advise Council on possible sites for the reconstruction of Hyattsville Middle School (HMS). The EFTF successfully catalogued, researched and analyzed potential sites for HMS, identified pros and cons and feasibility of those sites, vetted those sites with relevant stakeholders (including Hyattsville residents) and experts, and presented a recommendation to City Council. Council then accepted the Task Force’s recommendation and communicated that recommendation to the Prince George’s County School District (PGCPS). The school district agreed with and confirmed selection of the recommended site and is in the process of reconstructing HMS on the original site of the middle school.
Immediately following this success, EFTF identified lessons learned from the HMS process snd started preparing for the next process: recommending a site for the pending reconstruction of Hyattsville Elementary School (HES), which is on the district’s priority list of schools to be reconstructed. The task force is engaged in similar early-stage work related to HES: cataloguing, researching and analyzing potential sites for HES, identifying pros and cons and feasibility of those sites, and vetting those sites with stakeholders and relevant experts.
Given the age and state of repair of the PGCPS neighborhood schools serving the City of Hyattsville, and given the rate of new development within City limits, the City is likely to have additional future opportunity and responsibility to recommend school sites for construction and reconstruction. For that reason, Council needs to update the Task Force to become a committee and the worksheet to ensure the task force can support the Council in future school construction and reconstruction needs.
ANTICIPATED STAFF RESOURCES REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT:
Minimal - Staff Liaison to the EFTF will need to update paper and digital records with the new worksheet, and train EFTF members and Council Liaisons about new worksheet.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
1. Original EFTF worksheet
2. EFTF materials presented to City Council regarding HMS site
3. Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) FY2017 Educational Facilities Master Plan
Next Steps:
Upon Council approval, update the Committee worksheet.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
City Administrator Comments:
N/A
Community Engagement:
Currently the EFTF has 6 members (4 from Ward 1 and 2 from Ward 2). There are 5 vacancies at this time.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 3 - Promote a Safe and Vibrant Community
Legal Review Required?
N/A