September 7, 2020 For Immediate Release
BALTIMORE — Baltimore City Public Schools will host ribbon cuttings for the district’s two Net Zero schools. City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises will join Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young, Senator Bill Ferguson, School Board of Commissioners Chair Linda Chinnia, and the school principals and students on Tuesday, September 8 for the celebrations.
Graceland Park/O’Donnell Heights will begin at 11 a.m. and Holabird Academy will begin at 12:30 p.m. Brief guided tours will be offered immediately following both ceremonies.
Graceland Park/O’Donnell Heights and Holabird Academy are City Schools’ first two net zero school buildings and will produce as much energy as they use every year. The energy is generated by 1,300 solar panels on the roof. Support for the zero net energy elements was provided by the Maryland Energy Administration. These buildings are estimated to save between $15,000 and $35,000 annually in energy costs. Both buildings are currently expected to receive LEED Platinum certification.
Holabird Academy serves 450 students in pre-k to 8th grade and now has the capacity to serve 600 students. It is a community school and one of the district’s intensive learning sites for restorative practices. It also offers English for Speakers of Other Languages as well as gifted programs.
Graceland Park/O’Donnell Heights serves 500 students in pre-k to 8th grade and now has the capacity to serve 600 students. Graceland Park focuses on project-based learning and emphasizes sustainability. It is a community school and offers English for Speakers of Other Languages as well as gifted programs.
The schools are designed with flexible, grade-group clusters with shared collaborative learning spaces. An outdoor garden area and a rooftop solar learning lab provide diverse learning spaces as well as first-hand learning opportunities regarding the environmental concepts of the buildings. An energy dashboard will allow teachers and students to access real-time energy generation and use data, which can be used in classroom lessons. Learning spaces are equipped with interactive teaching stations, sound enhancement systems, and adjustable LED lighting. Daylight is maximized throughout the buildings. Multi-purpose cafetorium space serves as an area for dining, as well as events and school productions, with a dedicated audio/visual system and a stage with theatrical lighting.
Completed by the Capital Improvement Program and the City Schools Facilities Department, these two new schools are designed to highlight City Schools’ goal to prioritize future-focused and sustainable learning environments. The design of these schools focuses on energy-conscious design and project-based learning.
These schools will be community landmarks to educate a generation of students as sustainability natives with STEM and environmental literacy skills critical to the future.