Petition: Save Our Silver Spring Schools

 

Save Our Silver Spring Schools

Who We Are

We are standing up as a sizable community of parents and advocates to ensure our voice is heard amid MCPS’ misguided, fast-tracked proposal to close Silver Spring International Middle School (SSIMS) and relocate Sligo Creek Elementary School (SCES).

What We Want

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced a plan on October 13 to close Silver Spring International Middle School (SSIMS) in June 2030 and relocate Sligo Creek Elementary School (SCES) in August 2029, in order to repurpose the buildings into “holding” schools for other construction projects. 

MCPS says this plan addresses a need for downcounty holding schools, that the buildings are no longer fit to be used as permanent facilities, and dropping enrollment is impacting school populations. 

While there is a need for downcounty holding schools, there are alternatives to closing the only middle school in downtown Silver Spring. Further, close analysis of the plan shows that it is not data-driven, is fiscally irresponsible and counter to the principles laid out in the county’s Thrive Montgomery 2050 plan. 

The timeline from MCPS proposal announcement to Board of Education vote is only five weeks—a fast-tracked schedule that severely limits community engagement. The process for this proposal and decision has been rushed without consultation with our community, contradicting MCPS’s own established policies for Facilities Planning.

We need our neighborhood schools! Our community and students deserve better.

We call on MCPS, Superintendent Taylor, County Executive Marc Elrich, and the Montgomery County Council to take all necessary steps to stop plans to convert SCES and SSIMS into holding schools, and make needed investments for our community’s students in the current facilities...

https://saveoursilverspringschools.com/