Wye River Upper School student requests Maryland legislators for $1 million in Capital funding

WRUS-Group-with-Hughs Meredith-Gov-HughesWye River Upper School student requests Maryland legislators for $1 million in Capital funding

With former Governor Harry Hughes at her side and in less than one minute, Wye River Upper School tenth grade student Meredith Dean requested a body of seasoned legislators from across the state of Maryland to grant her school $1 million dollars in capital funds. 

On March 10, Dean testified before the Maryland House Capital Budget Sub Committee which included Chair Adrienne Jones of Baltimore County and local Delegate Adelaide Eckhardt of Dorchester County. Meredith shared her story and asked for their support of the renovation of the Centreville Armory as the school site. Her remarks drew an unusual and spontaneous round of applause from the committee.  “I came to Wye River half way through my freshman year and am now a sophomore.  I had been struggling with some subjects like reading and spelling.  I have to say I have come a long way.  I believe that the school moving to the armory is a win-win for everyone.  Well, for us we get a new school and for the town we are preserving a piece of history,”  stated, Dean.

Wye River Upper School is an independent high school serving bright students from Central Maryland and the Eastern Shore with learning differences including ADHD, dyslexia and Asperger’s as well as those who benefit from small class size and responsive teaching strategies.

Accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools and licensed by the State of Maryland, the college preparatory school is close to reaching its capital campaign target, enabling them to complete the full historic restoration of their new home – the Maryland National Guard Armory in Centreville, Maryland.

Governor Martin O’Malley included the renovation project in his 2015 capital budget, which was approved last week by the legislature.  “We are grateful to the Governor and to our local representatives, and legislators from across the State of Maryland for their tangible support, and appreciation of the mission of Wye River Upper School and our campaign to restore and repurpose the Centreville Armory,” stated Tom Seip capital campaign co-chair for the school.

The entire student body and full staff traveled to Annapolis on the day of Meredith’s testimony, where they met with other legislators and provided a presence during the sub-committee hearings.

“Student testimony has been a learning tool for our kids and a meaningful way to gain the current Governor’s support and to assure that the budget item makes its way through the legislative process,” reports Chrissy Aull, Executive Director at Wye River and a special educator who co-founded the school in 2002.  “We are fortunate that Governor Hughes, a Caroline County neighbor, believes in our work and was willing to support our efforts.”

Additionally, students met with eastern and western shore legislators.  James Honeywell, a junior from Chestertown, provided testimony before the Eastern Shore delegation during their weekly meeting.  Congressman Andy Harris was in the room and heard Honeywell’s remarks regarding his success at the school.

“Including our students in these experiences is a hallmark of the school.  We seize the numerous opportunities in their daily lives, as after all, that is what we are preparing our students to be – citizens of their communities. The learning could not be any more powerful or enduring.  Students have a voice, the legislators appreciate their presence, and the civics lesson is much more engaging than a chapter in a textbook,”  noted, Aull.

The school, currently located in leased space on the campus of Chesapeake College, will open its new doors to students this September.  A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Friday September 5, 2014, to which the public is welcome.  For more information regarding the renovation or admissions, contact Katie Theeke, Director of Admissions or Liz LaCorte, Director of Development at 410-827-5822.

Photos: The House Chamber, Former Governor Harry Hughes sits in the center of the WRUS student body.

Former Governor Harry Hughes listens as Wye River Upper School student, Meredith Dean of Centreville, speaks to the Maryland House Capital Budget Sub Committee.