Board Set to Approve Facilities Plan for 'Inadequate' Schools

Five local schools 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 is set to approve at today's meeting. 

The plan "addresses the need to provide capacity for projected student enrollments, the need to maintain and repair existing school buildings, and the need to provide an adequate learning environment to meet the current instructional programs of the school system," according to the Board of Education agenda. 

After an analysis of enrollment and facilities, it was determined that  in Eldersburg was categorized below state standards in 2010, according to the Carroll County Public School System Educational Facilities master plan. 

This year the school was 46 students or 108.8 percent over the total state capacity of 525 students.

Additionally,  is listed as inadequate with 28 students or 104.9 percent over the total state capacity this year. In 2020, Piney Ridge is projected to be 35 students or 106.1 percent over the total state capacity. 

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 Mount Airy Middle and  schools are both currently considered inadequate and are expected to stay over capacity through the 2011-2020 projection period. 

Mount Airy Middle School's enrollment for this year was 84 students or 116.5 percent over the school's functional capacity and Sykesville Middle School was 77 students or 110.3 percent over functional capacity. 

Currently the overcrowding is being addressed with the Mount 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,  is currently listed as below standard, with enrollment for this year 125 students or 11.8 percent over the state's capacity of 1,188 students. 

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 Carroll County Public Schools Actual and Projected Enrollment can be read here. 

The Board meets to approve the plan during their meeting today, June 8 at 5 p.m. at the Board of Education headquarters in Westminster.