BCPS proposes repurposing Golden Ring Middle School for Crossroads program to avoid state reimbursement hit
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Summary
At its Dec. 2 meeting, BCPS staff proposed moving the Crossroads Center into the Golden Ring Middle School site beginning 2027–28 to avoid an estimated $3.9 million IAC reimbursement and reduce annual lease costs; staff estimated modest capital refresh needs and outlined a timeline tied to the Crossroads lease expiration.
Baltimore County Public Schools presented a proposed change to its FY27 county capital-budget request Dec. 2: reoccupying the Golden Ring Middle School site by moving the Crossroads Center there beginning in the 2027–28 school year.
Presenters said the Crossroads Center's current lease expires in 2027 and that rent, CAM, HVAC and related costs for the current site exceed $1.9 million in FY26; staff estimated a future annual cost for continued leasing of between $1.16 million and $1.75 million depending on market valuation. Reoccupying Golden Ring with students would, staff said, allow the district to avoid an almost $3.9 million reimbursement to the Interagency Committee (IAC) because the state expects capital-funded facilities to remain student-occupied for a specified period.
BCPS staff said the Golden Ring option would not require a full renovation but would include targeted capital investments (secure vestibules, painting, tile replacement, site-specific work) estimated in the presentation at about $4 million to ready the facility. Staff also said the district could, if desired, combine other programs on the site and that teams had surveyed the building to identify necessary safety and code-related work.
Board members asked questions about capacity, secure entry points, which parts of the building would be rehabilitated, and whether Rosedale or other programs could also occupy Golden Ring. Staff said they had reviewed options and would focus on cost-effective improvements scaled to Crossroads' smaller enrollment.
Next steps: BCPS will include the Golden Ring repurpose option in the county capital request, hold a work session in mid-December and seek a vote in January as part of the FY27 capital cycle; board members were invited to submit written questions for the December 16 work session.