A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hyattsville Elementary School was held Aug. 5 at the site of the former 43rd Avenue school building, now set to be demolished. The new Hyattsville Elementary, which was approved by the county planning board this spring, will be one of eight new second-round schools constructed in Prince George’s County using an alternative funding method that engages in a public-private partnership, often referred to as P3.

Richard McKee, principal of Hyattsville Elementary, was one of the first speakers at the ceremony.

“With today’s groundbreaking, we aren’t just turning soil,” McKee said, “we’re laying the foundation for the next century of learning, of leadership, and of love in this community.”

County Executive Aisha Braveboy and county school district interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph also gave remarks.

“This is what progress looks like,” Joseph said, in reference to the construction. “Elected leaders, our schools, our private sector partners, working together as one team to reimagine the future for our students.”

Paul Pinsky, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, highlighted how the new elementary school will be a “net zero school,” meaning that the school can produce enough clean energy to run itself without fossil fuels. Pinsky said that he hopes there will soon be 10 to 12 carbon net zero schools statewide.

The new two-story building will be built in the exact same location as the old school, and will be able to accommodate 650 students, compared to the old building’s capacity for 421 students. The roof of the new building will also feature several new amenities, including a small garden and several outdoor classrooms. The construction plan includes a two-story parking garage, as well.

Construction will begin in the fall, and is scheduled to conclude in time for the 2027-28 school year. In the interim, students will be attending St. Mark’s School, on Adelphi Road, as a swing space.

Following the groundbreaking, Hyattsville City Councilmember Joanne Waszczak (Ward 1) told the Life & Times that the building of the school is more than a mere construction project.

“It’s not just demolition, construction and ribbon cutting,” Waszczak said. “It’s also thinking about, where do all the Hyattsville Elementary School students go for two years, and how do we make that a smooth experience, a successful experience?”

Waszczak noted that the Hyattsville Education Facilities Task Force -– a task force made up of local parents and experts — had done amazing work in the planning of the construction, and would be important going forward, as well.

Zephan Matteson is an undergraduate journalism major at the University of Maryland.