City Springs Elementary / Middle School community and the Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP), the Maryland neighborhood conversion charter school organization that oversees City Springs, received long-awaited news on November 1, 2023. The Baltimore City Board of Estimates voted unanimously to approve the $69 million construction plan for a new school building.

Rhonda L. Richetta, Ed.D., City Springs Principal, and several students were in attendance at City Hall for the momentous vote that will create a new home for the school and replace the 60-year-old school facility. 

“We have been waiting a very long time for

 this to happen,” says a proud Dr. Richetta. “Today was a day for the memory book! The next step is demolition of the Lombard building, which we should see happening very soon.”

It was a learning experience about the workings of city government for the City Springs scholars who attended the Board of Estimates meeting. They witnessed the vote, took photos in the Council Chambers and the Mayor’s Office Suite, and met Mayor Brandon Scott. Mayor Scott gifted every student in attendance with an Under Armour backpack, school supplies and a laptop – thank you, Mayor Scott!

Also in attendance were City Springs Staff: Mr. Wade, Director of Restorative Practices; Mr. Patterson, Director of Anti-racism; Ms. Henderson, Paraeducator; Mr. Marinelli, Teacher; Denise Street, Perkins Tenant Council President; and City Springs volunteers.

Read more about the new City Springs construction project.