Former NFL linebacker, now Baltimore City school teacher, Aaron Maybin has joined a Morgan State University student and a Coppin State University student in launching a GoFundme campaign to buy space heaters, hats, gloves, and coats, socks, etc., for children attending Baltimore City Public Schools that have insufficient heating.
Maybin, a 2009 first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, who is now a teacher at Matthew A. Henson Elementary in his hometown. He’s assisting the effort of 22-year old Samierra Jones—whose sister attends Western High School. Jones says she got the crowd sourcing idea after her sister got sick from being so cold at school. Maybin talked with Mornings with Mykel Friday to discuss what he says is “unacceptable.”
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh issued a statement regarding city school heating and infrastructure problems. The mayor says she is deeply distressed by the substandard conditions that include a lack of heat, poorly insulated windows and broken plumbing, saying they have created an unacceptable and dangerous environment. The mayor is calling on schools CEO, Dr. Sonja Santelises and the City Board of Commissioners to assess and account for the spending of maintenance funds. She's also urging an expedited process to fix the problems. As many as 60 schools have reported problems and the union representing teachers has called on those schools to be closed until the problems are addressed.
Dr. Santelises issued a statement saying that she shares the mayor’s sense of urgency and the district’s facilities staff have been “working tirelessly” to make repairs in schools across the city. “The challenges we are facing with these sustained frigid temperatures are not maintenance issues, but infrastructure,” said Santelises. “Baltimore is home to some of the state’s oldest school infrastructure.”
The school board meets next Tuesday, January 9, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., and the subject of frigid classrooms is sure to be at the top of the agenda