The Mayor’s Office issued a press release announcing that the Mamie D. Lee school building, located at 100 Gallatin Street NE, was awarded to Bridges and Briya Public Charter School. Mamie D. Lee, which serves special needs students, will close at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. The release provides a few details about the new school:

Bridges and Briya are partnering to offer a full spectrum of education programming from infant and toddler to adult programs. Bridges, which will serve 400 students at capacity, will provide a pre-Kindergarten and elementary school program with a focus on serving a high proportion of students with special needs in an inclusive environment. Briya will offer GED and vocational education for adults as well as infant and toddler programs for children of students attending Briya’s adult programs.  At capacity, Briya will serve 225 adults and 36 infants and toddlers.

Bridges and Briya will also partner with Mary’s Center, which will provide medical, dental and mental health services. Mary’s Center will be equipped to address early intervention for infants and toddlers and will offer athletic and wellness opportunities for community members.

Bridges and Briya presented their plans at an ANC 5A meeting in October.  During that meeting, a couple of commissioners expressed public safety concerns about operating a school beyond traditional school hours (as Bridges and Briya plan to do) because the immediate area around the school, including the paved path leading to Fort Totten metro station, is not well lit at night. ANC 5A ultimately decided to support the application of a different school.

Bridges and Briya plan to add on to the Mamie Lee school building. They anticipate being open for the 2015-2016 school year in their new home.