Sligo Creek, Sims communities push back on proposed closures and holding‑school plans; request clearer data and engagement

Parents, teachers and community leaders from Sligo Creek Elementary School and Silver Spring International Middle School (SIMS) pushed back against proposals that would close or repurpose those campuses as part of holding‑school planning, saying the plan was presented with insufficient community engagement and incomplete data.

Speakers requested MCPS provide the full analysis that led to the closure and holding‑school proposals and asked why site selection options have not been shared. "MCPS has not explained in detail why these schools are not salvageable," said Robin Gaster, a Sligo Creek/Sims community member. Parents and staff said the district has not provided comparable outreach that was used in other school projects; they asked for down‑county meetings, full explanations of cost and site options, and a clear timeline for site selection.

The Sligo Creek PTA and Silver Spring International Middle School speakers also raised program concerns: Sligo Creek's French immersion program and SIMS' language/IB programming would need deliberate relocation plans to preserve continuity and staff retention. "If the school is not going to be relocated, we will need clear plans for where language immersion students and the SIMS IB program will go," said an immersion parent.

Speakers said the Crown holding‑school option appears to shift burdens to downtown and down‑county neighborhoods and asked MCPS to present alternatives; they requested an accurate accounting of enrollment, program regions and projected travel and safety impacts for walking and biking routes. MCPS staff responded that site selection must follow policy and will include community engagement; staff also noted legal and logistical constraints around designating a holding school and said some options will be part of forthcoming board actions and work sessions.