City Council proposes tripartite agreement for Mae’s School use of Farnum ground

After months of mounting public concern, the Georgetown City Council is proposing a formal tripartite agreement to regulate the continued use of a section of the Farnum ground by Mae’s School.

Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore told the News Room on Wednesday that the proposal would bring together the City Council, the owners of Mae’s School, and the Subryanville community in a legally binding agreement aimed at balancing the educational needs with residents’ rights to public space.

“We’ve done our part in facilitating education, but we’ve also ventilated this matter with residents and our own councilors,” Mentore said.

Mae’s School began using the site following a fire that displaced students from their primary campus. Temporary prefab classrooms were erected to house classes, but the installations proceeded without prior approval from the Council or the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

However, Mentore said the school has received a preliminary approval from the authority. Mentore, who addressed the issue during a recent Council meeting, said the City had taken a balanced approach after extensive public consultation.

Mentore previously expressed strong support for students affected by the fire, insisting that their education must continue without unnecessary disruption. However, he acknowledged that the school’s occupation of the community ground could not continue indefinitely or without formal regulation.

The agreement which will be presented at the next statutory meeting includes the recommendation that the school vacate the ground by December 31, 2026, rejecting the school’s initial request to stay until March 2027. The school is asked to pay $2.5 million over the approved period for the use of public land. This includes a security deposit of $500,000 and $1.5 million will be held as a restoration bond, ensuring the area is returned to its original condition after the school leaves.

It was also suggested that the money be used to uplift the community. Mentore said the Council is open to ongoing dialogue and expects further consultation on how the $2.5 million collected from the school will be spent.

“We don’t want to dictate what the community does with the funds,” he said.