Silver Spring International Middle School's Proposed Closure

By Campbell Goldston

On Oct. 13, MCPS superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor announced that he was planning to recommend the closure of Silver Spring International Middle School (SSIMS) and build a new Sligo Creek Elementary School (SCES) at a new location. On Dec. 12, a vote was held at the Board of Education meeting, which resulted in the suspension of the process of recommending the closure of SSIMS. The decision has been pushed back to at least next fall. The plan was for both schools to be converted into holding schools as part of the proposed $2.7 billion Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), in a project that was estimated to cost $240 million.

MCPS suggested that SSIMS students be divided up into Sligo and Eastern middle schools, with both undergoing renovations to accommodate the increase in student body. 

The building was originally built in 1934 to house Blair High School, before being renovated in 1999 for SSIMS and SCES to use. 

Taylor cited SSIMS’ condition and declining enrollment as reasons for the suggested closure. Concerns include mold, unsafe stairwells, and roof and gutter issues. Additionally, concerns surrounding the Metro’s Purple Line, which will run right by the school, contributed to the proposition. Just last spring, a $20.5 million gym was constructed to replace the previous gym, which was detached from the school. The decision to close the school caused uproar in the community, which felt completely blindsided. 

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, angry students, alumni, parents, and teachers held a protest outside of SCES, holding signs and chanting “better schools, not holding schools.”

According to SSIMS PTSA president Megan DiNicola, closing the school would have had a significant impact on the community, as the “proposals under consideration were quite unexpected.” It caused a huge risk of high teacher turnover, as staff would’ve seeked “other jobs that wait out the 5-year closure cycle,” which would’ve hurt students’ experience and academic success. Additionally, it is unknown how many staff would have been retained as the students were redistributed, especially in the case of “administration, media staff and other specialty staff,” who would be “redundant in a new school.” 

Prior to the decision being rescinded, DiNicola suggested that MCPS “do simple and less costly renovations to SSIMS just to address the urgent needs, and wait to renovate the school in place in the future,” rather than closing the school. She says “we would like to remain open and together as a community.”

According to MCPS’ deputy chief of facilities management, Andrea Siwatocha, the reason the building can’t be rebuilt or renovated at its current location is due to the nature of the school’s location and the fact that there are no available holding schools. They have limited space to work with, and the property is very hilly, so “this is not an easy, flat site for [them] to just sort of wheel in portables, set them, place them, walk away and cycle students in and out,” said Siwatocha.