Parents, teachers, and staff were informed during a virtual town hall meeting on Friday about the relocation of Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School (FSK) in Locust Point to the Thurgood Marshall Building located at 5001 Sinclair Lane in Northeast Baltimore. This relocation comes after FSK was closed on January 20 following the discovery of mold and moisture issues stemming from a leaking HVAC unit in a hallway.
Contractors have been actively working at the school all week to remediate mold and remove contaminated materials, filling dumpsters with demolished items. To accommodate this transition, FSK will continue with virtual learning for another week, with an asynchronous learning day planned on Friday, and in-person classes set to begin at the new location on February 2. The school plans to return to its original site on March 2, contingent on the completion of remediation and successful inspection clearance.
Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) has committed to providing 13 school buses for FSK students, who number around 589 according to BCPS’s official page. These buses will leave FSK in the mornings and return in the afternoons. Notably, the bus schedule will keep FSK’s original hours from 9 AM to 3:40 PM, with buses departing as early as 8:30 AM for the commute to Thurgood Marshall. The journey is expected to take over 30 minutes, although traveling through the Fort McHenry Tunnel may reduce the time to about 15 minutes, a factor still under consideration by BCPS.
Thurgood Marshall, located in the Frankford neighborhood, serves as a temporary relocation site for schools undergoing construction. Currently, the western section hosts Vanguard Collegiate Middle School, while FSK will occupy the eastern section formerly home to Furley Elementary. Equipment was already being delivered to Thurgood Marshall in preparation for FSK’s arrival.
During the virtual town hall, parents and teachers expressed numerous concerns, which included the condition of Thurgood Marshall, transportation logistics, interaction with Vanguard Collegiate, the timeline for resolving FSK’s issues, and the option for virtual learning. Unanswered questions during the meeting highlighted the ongoing struggles the FSK community has faced, including long-standing leaks and inadequate facilities.
Drew Vetter, president of the FSK Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), noted, “We are fortunate to have an incredibly engaged and dedicated community of families, teachers, and staff at FSK. Our expectation is that we can return to a safe and healthy work and learning environment as quickly as possible.” He emphasized the importance of community support as they navigate this challenging period.
In addition to the mold and HVAC issues, FSK has been managing problematic facilities such as outdated bathrooms and locker rooms, a deteriorating gym floor, and an under-maintained schoolyard. The baseball fields behind the school have fallen into disrepair, affecting local leagues that once utilized them.
This proactive approach by the FSK community, alongside the resources provided by BCPS, reflects a resilient commitment to fostering a safe and enriching educational environment for students. The developments in this situation express a hopeful outlook for the school’s future, reinforcing the community’s dedication to addressing challenges effectively.