Patterson Park Public Charter will use 13.7 million dollars worth of tax-free bonds issued last week by the Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority to renovate the building housing the 6 year-old charter. They will add middle school classrooms as well as a music center and an art facility. Some of the existing classrooms will also get technological upgrades, and some will be converted into music laboratories. An exciting aspect of this renovation is that it will be completed using some recycled materials following Baltimore City’s Green Building Standards, including solar panels and irrigation systems.
In response, Alonso was quoted as saying the school system "was pleased to support Patterson Park's efforts by providing umbrella financing for their bond issue to facilitate this new middle school building. We look forward to creating more settings where our children learn in the types of buildings they deserve."
I am very excited for the prospect of more “green” renovations occurring throughout the city. Considering that up until this year my school didn’t even have a paper-recycling program, it is clear that schools all over the city are at different levels of “greenness.” Although we all cannot be as fortunate as Patterson Park Public Charter, this is my shout out to everyone to do little things to “green” their schools. Start a paper-recycling program – it can actually earn your school money!
Also, if your students love Capri Suns as much as mine do (some students drink 2 or 3 at lunch time alone!), your school can also earn money from collecting empty pouches and mailing them off to the company (this company collects other types of food wrappers too!).
Hopefully, teaching our students to recycle and about the importance of preserving the environment will inspire them to carry on with these environmentally-friendly habits outside of school. Little by little, person by person, we can help make Baltimore a “greener,” cleaner city!!!
Links to the paper-recycling and Capri Sun pouch programs:
http://www.paperretriever.com/
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/caprisun/be-green-earn-green.aspx
Article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.patterson20mar20,0,5336281.story
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