FY 2021 Educational Facilities Master Plan

Facility Inventory Analysis

INITIATIVES P rojects that may not be identified by either the enrollment or facility needs analyses but shall be considered important during the prioritization of capital funding. WCPS COUNTY STADIUM Although not a building by definition, the WCPS county stadium is treated as a separate facility and tracked as such regarding the necessary on-going operations and maintenance of this critical athletic component. The county stadium is shared by all WCPS schools for several of their competition sport venues including soccer, lacrosse, football and track and receives an immense amount of use throughout the entire year. Currently the track is in need of resurfacing and the visitor side bleachers need replaced. PORTABLES Although not the preferred way to deal with either overcrowded conditions or a building that lacks space for a specific program need, portables whether used as classrooms or program support space are often used throughout our county schools to deal with critical needs. This is often done as a short term measure until a more permanent structure can be funded and constructed but often becomes a long term fix. During the 2019/20 school year, WCPS was operating and maintaining eighty-two (82) portables at various schools throughout the county. Fifty-five (55) units are located on elementary school sites, seven (7) are at middle schools and twenty (20) are being used at the high school level. Our records indicate that 70 of the 90 rooms within the 82 portables are being used as additional classroom space. The others are used to make up for instructional pull-out space that older schools lack. In total, these units represent over 60,000 square feet which for comparison purposes, is approximately the size of one of our smaller Pre-K – 2 elementary schools. Unfortunately, many of the units are very old and extremely inefficient to operate. Although they are not considered a permanent asset, these units require continued service and resources similar to actual school buildings. WCPS has tried to reduce its overall inventory of aged portables by aggressively addressing the improvements and repairs that these units require. Portables (for better or worse) have come to play a vital role in our ability to provide adequate space for the classroom and program support needs of our schools. It has become crucial that we maintain and service these units on a regular basis. CHOICES INITIATIVE Study the options for a permanent building for the Choices Academy program.

Wicomico County Public Schools Educational Facilities Master Plan FY 2021

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