SCES Playground Update - June 2019

We are very excited to announce that the launch of the new SCES playground is moving forward!

Pending county budget approval, Anne Arundel County Council and Board of Education are slated to replace the two main play structures on the playground as well as address drainage issues with a total budget of $140,000. The structures that they install will not be in equivalent size to what we currently have. Therefore, the money raised for the playground in the past few years (approximately $54, 000) will be used to supplement the two structures the county installs. In September 2019, the school will survey students to select the two main play structures that they want from AACPS-authorized selections.

The PTA wants to work with members of the community who were so generous in our Playground Drive to decide on additional enhancement structures and pieces from the money fund-raised for the playground over the past few years. These upgrades/enhancements could include, natural play structures (eg. log balance beams), shade structures, benches, stenciling games for asphalt play areas, etc.

For those that have donated in the past to the SCES playground fund, THANK YOU for your generosity and have a great summer!

The SCES PTA Playground Committee,

Andy Martinez

Timeline of SCES Playground Project

2014-2015, 2015-2016 - Facilities department removes some of the older, unsafe structures from the current playground which was installed in 1999. AACPS deems the remaining playground safe but parts are not available for any other outdated equipment. Broken structures will continue to be removed. PTA launches investigatory playground committee to proactively plan, design, and raise funds for a new playground. To replace the playground with an equivalent structure, the cost is roughly $140,000. At this time, AACPS does not provide funding for new playground equipment. Average lifespans of playground structures is 15-18 years. Facilities performs yearly safety checks on equipment.

2016-2017 - Aggressive fundraising begins and includes direct door-to-door donations, corporate sponsorships, Book-A-Thon, and direct giving. Fundraising results in $53,000 raised.

2017-2018 - With a transition year for the PTA leadership, we placed less emphasis on playground fundraising. In the spring 2018, the PTA learned that AACPS has SCES slated for a new playground on their 2020 maintenance log. We have a cookbook fundraiser that raises $700 for the playground.

2018-2019 - Playground committee confirms that playground is slated on AACPS agenda for 2019-2020 school year with AACPS facilities department and votes to cease fundraising efforts. Committee decides on a survey of SC community to determine "other structures" and "enhancements" to be purchased from Playground Fundraiser. Meetings will happen over the summer 2019 to review survey feedback from community. Meetings with AACPS to determine structure needs, design elements, and estimated timeline for installation.

Fall 2019 - Students will get to vote on structures they would like from the AACPS-provided selections from Game Time.

Fall/Winter 2019-2020 - Projected install of new playground, TBD.