Board of Education to Look at 'Inadequate' Eldersburg, Sykesville Schools

Two elementary schools in South Carroll County are listed as “inadequate” or soon to become inadequate to meet the needs of the number of students enrolled, according to a plan that the board of education will address this week.  

After an analysis of enrollment and facilities, it was determined that in Eldersburg was categorized as inadequate by state standards in 2010, according to the Carroll County Public School System Educational Facilities Master Plan.

Additionally, in Sykesville is projected to reach the inadequate ranking in 2020.

The plan states that although there is enough capacity countywide to handle elementary enrollments, some areas, including the South Carroll area, have “local capacity concern.”

Because of increased capacities at the local elementary schools and the expectation of growth in the Eldersburg area, the addition of a new elementary school to solve overcrowding in the area remains as a long-term solution, according to the plan. 

When looking at middle schools in the area, the plan states that Mt. Airy Middle and are both currently considered inadequate and are expected to stay over capacity through the 2011-2020 projection period. 

Currently the overcrowding is being addressed with the Mt. Airy Middle Replacement School project, which is expected to add 250 seats of capacity to the southern area of the county. 

In the high school study for the southern area of the county, is currently listed as inadequate but is projected to drop to approaching inadequate in 2011. Liberty then becomes adequate in 2013, before going back to approaching inadequate in 2015–2018, according to the study.

Since the school currently has five portable classrooms and the utilization percentage is expected to decline below 100 percent, the short-term capacity needs are currently being managed with portable classrooms.

The plan suggests that enrollment growth at Liberty High should continue to be monitored to determine if permanent capacity relief options should be evaluated in the future.

The proposed plan can be read here. 

The board of education meets to discuss the plan and hear resident concerns Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at the board of education headquarters in Westminster.