Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) leaders approved changes to school start and closing times, consolidated some busy routes, and made amendments to walking distances.
“As part of my 90-day plan, we conducted a comprehensive transportation audit to identify opportunities for improvements in operations. The audit yielded several recommendations, and I am pleased to inform you that we are taking immediate action to implement solutions that we believe will have a significant impact,” said PGCPS CEO Dr. Millard House II. “For the 2024-2025 school year, you can expect to see changes aimed at ensuring the safe, efficient, and punctual transportation of our students to and from school.”
School start times have been standardized to 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., or 9:30 a.m. In addition, students from neighboring schools may end up riding the same bus, and school walking distances will be roughly doubled to nearly half a mile from their respective school.
In a Facebook post, Board of Education Member Jocelyn Route recommended that students who plan to walk to school opt out of the bus option, which would better reflect student ridership and assess the effect of the time transition.
There will be town halls to discuss transportation changes on the following dates:
- Tuesday, April 23 from 6 p.m.- 7: 30 p.m. at Oxon Hill High School
- Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m.–11: 30 a.m. at Eleanor Roosevelt High School
- Monday, April 29 from 6 p.m.– 7: 30 p.m. at Walker Mill Middle School
- Tuesday, April 30 from 6 p.m. – 7: 30 p.m. at Kenmoor Middle School
We previously covered the proposed changes to PGCPS start and closing times; read more here.
J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association Hosts Scholarship Tea
The J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association hosted its 17th Annual Scholarship Tea in the MGM National Harbor’s Grand Ballroom on April 14, honoring women in both politics and the judiciary and presenting scholarships to rising legal minds.
The tea featured an opening speech from Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D) and Florida Congresswoman Sheila Chefilus-McCormick (D) served as the keynote speaker.
The three scholarship awardees were Oluwatobi Ajimoko and Josephina Nimarko, both attending the Howard University School of Law, and Katiah Scott, who attends Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law.
Vanita Taylor, who is assigned counsel for Parental Defense with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender and served as the Bourne Bar Association’s president, was given the Mabel E. Houze Hubbard Legacy Award.
The Bourne Bar Association are National Bar Association (NBA) affiliates and their organization proudly claims to be the largest and most active specialty bar association in Maryland.
“The J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Inc., Women’s Committee established the annual tea as a scholarship opportunity,” said Nuria Grant, a supporter of the organization. “Now in its 17th year, the proceeds from the tea continue to be used toward scholarships for law students.”
Learn more about their organization here.
Prince Georgians Step Up to Help The Environment
To celebrate Earth Day, many government and local organizations are working to help beautify Prince George’s County.
On the actual Earth Day holiday, April 22, Rep. Glenn Ivey (D) and Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin visited the Bladensburg waterfront and Cheverly to present checks, courtesy of the federal budget, to address stormwater maintenance issues in the respective towns.
Cottage City secured $670,000 and Cheverly secured $1,688,000, which will also help the town develop a flood mitigation plan. The leaders also presented $225,000 to the Anacostia Water Society for efforts to improve the notoriously dirty river and improve the health of native fish and vegetation.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Upsilon Tau Omega Chapter is planning a shredding and electronic recycling event on April 27 at Jacob’s Ladder Youth Foundation in Fort Washington, Maryland. At the same time, the chapter’s Social Action Committee will host a voter registration drive.
“We want to empower our communities to protect the environment and utilize their voices to advocate for issues at the local, state, and national level,” said Upsilon Tau Omega Chapter President Quindella Fletcher.
The Prince George’s government is also making environmental efforts easier to access. Free mulch, derived from trees recycled after Christmas, was distributed at the Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility in Upper Marlboro on April 20.
“Mulching provides nutrition and protection to the soil and is one of the most beneficial things a homeowner can do for their landscape,” said Department of the Environment Director Andrea Crooms. “It gives your lawn a clean and finished look, is environmentally friendly, and helps beautify your lawn and community.”
The county government also sent an email outlining the remaining electronic waste collection dates: the next are April 27 at Bowie Baysox Stadium and May 4 at Surrattsville High School, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.