GREENBELT News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper VOL. 80, No. 15 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 MARCH 2, 2017 County Schools State Rejects Prince George’s Request for Aug. 22 Opening by Julie Depenbrock Prince George’s County Public date if the waiver from the state said Segun C. Eubanks, Board of Schools will begin the 2017-2018 was denied and left open the idea Education chair. “I strongly be- school year September 6 and end of litigation if necessary, but not lieve a pre-Labor Day school cal- June 13. for the 2017-2018 school year. endar is best for Prince George’s The school system’s request to Last August, Gov. Larry Ho- County.” begin prior to Labor Day was de- gan issued an executive order At the board meeting, Segun nied Tuesday, February 28 by the mandating local education agen- Eubanks expressed his frustration State Board of Education, accord- cies to develop a school calendar with Hogan’s proposal, saying it PHOTO BY OLIVIA GUERRIERI BY PHOTO ing to a press release from Prince that starts after Labor Day and was “illegal” and “bad education Serge (Julian Pitts), Josh (Aidan Larkin) and Skeeter (Finn George’s County Public Schools ends no later than June 15. To policy.” McNabb) enter the abandoned Treasure Trove mine, where dragons CEO Kevin Maxwell. date, the primary rationale given He continued, “This proposal are rumored to lurk. The winter youth musical opens Saturday at On Thursday, February 23, the for the executive order is the [referring to the governor’s man- the Community Center. Prince George’s County Board boost of tax revenue for Ocean date] is about doing what’s right of Education voted 8 to 4 to City and the popularity of the for businesses on the Eastern Buried Treasure Opens approve the 2017-2018 school proposal with the general public. Shore, not about doing what’s calendar with a pre-Labor Day “Under the Governor’s man- right for poor kids in Prince This year’s Greenbelt Youth level, so that kids can enjoy the start date, violating the Executive date, local Boards of Education George’s County.” Musical is Buried Treasure, an magical adventure story, complete Order from Maryland Governor can no longer implement a school Maxwell also expressed enchanting story about three high with dragons and gnomes, while Larry Hogan. They also voted to calendar that reflects the unique school students who fall down adults discern more sophisticated accept their post-Labor Day start needs of their school districts,” See CALENDAR, page 4 a mineshaft in the abandoned themes. Forty enthusiastic young Treasure Trove mine and find actors are in the cast. themselves in the mythical Un- The Greenbelt Youth Musi- derworld. The trio’s subterranean cal is an open-enrollment pro- adventure forces them to con- gram for performers in grades 7 County Board of Education front the idealized surface iden- through 12. The popular program tities they have constructed. As is in its 17th year. Buried Trea- Votes to Increase AP Funding the teens acknowledge the flaws sure opens this Saturday, March they previously denied, they are 4, at the Community Center. The by Julie Depenbrock able to grow in courage, wisdom show runs this weekend and next and goodness. Writer and direc- weekend only. For information In response to student testimo- B in an AP course, according to has the ability to enroll in four tor Chris Cherry notes that the and tickets, call the Community ny, the Prince George’s County the debate. AP classes. The cost of four AP show is written on more than one Center at 301-397-2208. Board of Education voted unani- Kevin Maxwell, CEO of exams is $372. mously to increase funding for Prince George’s County Public “P.G. County currently has a Advanced Placement (AP) exams Schools, came under fire in Janu- $2 billion budget. We are asking to $500,000. ary for leaving AP tests out of for 0.04 percent of that money to The funds will cover all stu- the 2018 budget. In response to go towards AP testing,” Awano ERHS Basketball Playoff dents on the Free and Reduced- the outrage, he and the board said. “There is no reason why we by Bill Cornett price Meals (FARM) program added $400,000 for AP tests – an should sit here today and have “and everyone else we can fit amount $300,000 short of what to debate over whether a student in,” Chair Segun Eubanks said. the county provided in years past. will be able to further their edu- In the region quarterfinal on no way that Bowie could come “Everyone else” could potentially At the February 23 board cation.” Tuesday, the Raiders opened up with five points in under four be any student earning an A or meeting, nine students stepped Several students argued that up a big lead in the beginning, seconds, so they ended the game up to the podium to make a case AP tests have long-term impact, but in the second half Bowie at that point. Final score was for full funding of AP tests. providing college credit and gave it maximum effort and tied ERHS 62, Bowie 57. Sarah Leonard, a senior at bringing them closer to a diploma it up with less than five min- What Goes On Eleanor Roosevelt High School, without pushing them further into utes to play. The lead was the first to speak. “I think debt. see-sawed in the fi- Saturday, March 4 that this county needs to provide The board meeting, which was nal minutes. With ten 7 p.m., Buried Treasure, AP tests with no economic barri- scheduled for 7:05 to 9:35 p.m., seconds to play, the Greenbelt Youth Musical, ers to all of its students,” Leon- lasted until 12:32 a.m. Many stu- Raiders sank several Community Center ard said to the more than 120 dents began to clear out around foul shots and had a people packed into the boardroom 9 p.m., after having overheated five-point lead. With Sunday, March 5 of the Sasscer Administration in the poorly ventilated room or 3.6 seconds to go, a 1 to 3 p.m., Community Art Building in Upper Marlboro. needing to finish homework. foul by a Roosevelt Drop-In, Community Center Bryce Awano, a freshman at The 42 registered speakers player caused the (see city ad for details) Parkdale High School with a Bowie bench to storm 3 p.m., Buried Treasure, 4.0 grade point average, said he See AP FUNDING, page 4 onto the court, fol- Greenbelt Youth Musical, lowed shortly thereaf- Community Center ter by hordes of fans. Monday, March 6 The numerous Green- 8 p.m., Council Worksession belt Police officers on Dog Park and Financial and school adminis- Interests Report, Municipal trators had their hands full controlling the Building crowd, but all ended Tuesday, March 7 well with no sub- 7 p.m., Arts Advisory Board, stantial altercations. Community Center (Greenbelt police later 7 p.m., Public Safety reported one Bowie Advisory Committee, student was arrested Community Center for assault.) Wednesday, March 8 The officials de- 7:30 p.m., Advisory Planning cided that there was WILLIAM CORNETT BY PHOTO Board, Community Center 7:30 p.m., Zero Waste Circle, Gus Okafor (20) of the Roosevelt Raiders Varsity Basketball Team AMY HANSEN BY PHOTO Public Works tries to get the ball past Kevin Chase (23) of the Bowie Bulldogs for A cherry tree on Lakeside Drive came into early bloom this Feb- a basket. ruary. Page 2 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, March 2, 2017 Correction The Old Curmudgeon Letters to the Editor In the February 23 issue the Council Discusses Crime, Po- lice and Legislation article in- OK This Time by a company who wanted a new correctly identified the amount I have spoken with Mayor contract with the city there was of the recruitment bonus for Emmett Jordan and Councilmem- no apparent ethics violation when the police department. The cor- bers Judith Davis and Silke Pope, a no-bid contract was awarded. rect amount is $500. people whom I respect. I have However, in the future, mem- also gained clarity from Act- bers of council need to know if a ing Police Chief Thomas Kemp. company, wanting a contract with Since the council did not know the city, has given a gratuity of City Notes some city employees had received any kind to our employees. Public Works staff met with a free paid trip to a conference Lois Rosado WSSC regarding the proposed water line replacement at Roos- evelt Center, inspected the stream restoration project on Hanover Parkway near the dog park, met with Pepco staff regarding the theater’s electric bill, supervised and inspected the gun range reno- vation, met with the lake dam contractor regarding the schedule and change orders and met with Pepco staff separately to review the electrical installation and me- tering at Roosevelt Center. Refuse/Recycling/Sustainabil- ity staff organized and led the Presidents Day Tree Protection event, with 29 volunteers caging 35 trees for protection from bea- vers and liberating 30 trees from English ivy. "I feel so lousy... if I weren't retired, I'd call in sick!" PHOTO BY MICHAEL REINSEL BY PHOTO Snowdrops bloom in a Greenbelt yard. Originally published on October 28, 1999. Oscars Night at OGT Assistant House Manager Theatre. There was bingo, trivia Brenna Lauer welcomed Green- and special offers for theater belt’s stars for this free, live members, opportunities to become streaming of the Oscars award a member, as well as concessions Greenbelt ceremony at the Old Greenbelt and movie posters for purchase.