The Carroll County Board of Education is seeking public input on proposed changes to its policy on its facility master plan.
The school board reviews and has a chance to discuss the Educational Facilities Master Plan each May, Superintendent Cynthia McCabe said. The long-term plan includes an updated capacity needs analysis based on new enrollment projections, and an updated construction calendar based on fiscal 2025 funding decisions.
“Facility needs analysis is how we look at what are the capacity needs, what are the modernization needs, what are the structural program facility needs, and we look at that every year,” Facilities Planner William Caine said at the school board’s regular monthly meeting on May 8.
Construction for additions at Freedom Elementary and Sykesville Middle schools is set to begin in 2027, as scheduled by the plan. Modernization work at Liberty High School would begin in 2029, at William Winchester Elementary in 2032, and at West Middle in 2034.
Freedom Elementary and Sykesville Middle, at 120% of capacity, are the only Carroll County Public Schools deemed inadequate.
Oklahoma Road Middle, Carrolltowne Elementary, Cranberry Station Elementary, Linton Springs Elementary, Piney Ridge Elementary, Sandymount Elementary and William Winchester Elementary schools are approaching inadequacy, according to the plan, which means they are between 110% and 119% capacity. All other schools are deemed adequate.
Cranberry Station Elementary is projected to be inadequate this year, but a kindergarten and prekindergarten addition will reduce capacity to a level between 105% and 110%, according to the plan.
Construction for additions at Cranberry Station, Friendship Valley, Sandymount and Taneytown elementary schools is set to begin in 2026. The plan also details the next phases of expanding prekindergarten space to implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future’s requirement that prekindergarten be available to all households at or below three times the federal poverty level.
The Blueprint, a state law that aims to send more resources to students who need them most, mandates expanded prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income households, among other initiatives.
In 2027, construction would begin for prekindergarten additions at Elmer Wolfe, Robert Moton, Runnymede, Spring Garden, Westminster and William Winchester elementary schools.
In 2028, construction is set to start for prekindergarten additions at Ebb Valley, Hampstead, Manchester and Winfield elementary schools.
And in 2029, construction would begin for prekindergarten additions at Carrolltowne, Eldersburg, Linton Springs, Mechanicsville and Piney Ridge elementary schools.
Anyone who wishes to provide feedback on proposed policy revisions may fill out the form at http://bit.ly/3R8LFBZ .
The same form may also be used by anyone who wishes to provide feedback on the system’s public participation policy or school-related fundraising policy. The board may vote to approve each of these items at its regular monthly meeting on June 12.
School board meetings are open to the public and live-streamed on the Carroll County Public Schools YouTube channel and viewable on the right side of the Board of Education’s website at carrollk12.org/board-of-education/meeting-information , under CETV Livestream. Meetings are also broadcast throughout the month on Carroll Educational Television, Channel 21.
Anyone who wishes to participate during the public participation portion of school board meetings must fill out an online sign-up form at https://www.carrollk12.org/board-of-education/meeting-information or call the communications office at 410-751-3020 by 9 p.m., on the Tuesday before a meeting.
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