九色视频 鈥 A committee called the Education Specifications Committee has come together to begin the discussion of renovating or replacing Lockerman Middle School.
鈥淪o this is the first step of the project process we go through for renovation,鈥 Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Derek Simmons said. 鈥淭his committee... is an opportunity for our community, this group of stakeholders and working with our outside consultant to talk about what they may feel is needed in a modern 2025, 2026 middle school.鈥
In the summer of 2024, the Caroline County Board of Education approved Lockerman Middle School as the next large construction project for the county. Consultant David Lever with Educational Facilities Planning LLC was contracted with to begin the process.
According to Simmons, the committee will help give the consultant a picture of what a middle school facility should look like to educate kids in the modern era and moving forward.
The architect will use the Education Specification Committee's documents to help design the school, whether renovating the current structure or building a new school altogether.
County Administrator and Committee Member Katheleen Freeman says the committee will go through multiple different scenarios and specifications to make sure the middle school is correctly designed.
鈥淲e're going to look at the square footage that's needed for the facilities that would be needed in the school,鈥 Freeman said. 鈥淎lso the traffic flow. Can can students walk to the school? If they have to drive, what's the traffic impact going to be? Is it going to be easy for parents to drop off and pick up, and the buses and all of that kind of thing?鈥
The committee consists of multiple school officials from schools in Caroline County and officials from the state, as well as community members.
鈥淲e have teachers from Lockerman, we have members of the Lockerman Association,鈥 Simmons said. 鈥淲e have central office folks who are involved with curriculum as well as building and facilities. We have parents at our elementary schools, as well as administration from Lockerman. We have some state representation that's been invited because the state will be a major funder.鈥
At the Nov. 26, 2024, Caroline County Commissioners meeting, Bill Mengel, director of operations at Caroline County Public Schools, said the state is projected to be receive $76 million in requested funding from the state.
Mengel said the $76 million is around 89% of the total $86 million estimated for years one and two of the project. The county would be responsible for the remaining 11% of the funding.
Simmons said the forming of the committee is a first step in what will be a long process to bring the middle school together.
鈥淚t is a marathon in terms of pulling this together,鈥 Simmons said. "As we work through the process, we want to really keep an eye on respecting the past and preparing for the future for the needs for Lockerman.
鈥淲e want to make sure that it's done right, something the community can be proud of. It is also a responsible use of the funding that will be used to build it. We are really looking forward to the process.鈥
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