The scope of a project at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School has shifted from a renovation and addition to plans for a new building.
The school, with a capacity of about 730 students, was built in 1966 and has had no renovations or additions in the 50 years since, leading to what county leaders have called “deplorable conditions,” including buckling floors, crumbling tiling and air quality issues.
“When I first started working here, my wife, a Lee graduate, asked when we’re finally going to do something about Lee,” said school system Division of Construction Director Seth Adams.
The school system first began exploring the possibility of a renovation at the Silver Spring school in 2015, and plans have since evolved to a project that builds an entirely new facility on the southwest corner of the property, the space farthest from the current school on site. The location will minimize the disruption to students’ learning as classes will continue in the current building while the new one is under construction, Adams said.
The new, $58 million building will include 27 classrooms, six science classrooms, physical education space, arts and music rooms, a school store and a health suite with space set aside for a future addition to include more classrooms, science labs and offices.
The project will increase the school’s capacity from 727 students to 1,008, and the master planned space will make room for an additional 200 students.
The new school is slated to open in 2022, when the school’s capacity is expected to be around 900 students, according to school system data. Once the school opens, crews will demolish the existing school, which staff anticipates will be completed in 2023.
“We’re outgrowing the building we’re in, but we’re really excited to have a fully-functional building where we don’t have to rely on maintenance to keep us running,” Lee principal Kimberly Hayden Williams said during a recent school board meeting. “We’re ready to focus on students, not maintenance needs, and we’re excited to have a this 21st century building we can be proud of and provide the best to our students.”
At the request of the County Council president, the school board is considering changing the school’s name in conjunction with the completion of the project.
Concerns have been raised about Col. E. Brooke Lee’s history implementing racist and segregationist housing and land use policies in the Silver Spring area.
The school board unanimously approved the project and commended the Lee community’s advocacy to draw attention to the school’s needs. Hayden Williams said community members consistently turned out to planning and advocacy meetings, as well as school board hearings, starting more than five years ago.
“This project is long overdue,” school board president Shebra Evans said. “I appreciate the community hanging in there, being patient and knowing all that patience has paid off. It’s impressive.”
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
