FY 2022 Educational Facilities Master Plan

The adopted 2017 Wicomico County Comprehensive Plan projects the County population could reach 119,200 people by 2030. Growth is anticipated for our community and the implication of these projections to our school system may be significant. Based upon recent development trends as well as population and household estimates and projects, by 2030 it is anticipated that approximately 49% of the County population will reside within one of the eight incorporated areas. In 2010, roughly 43,000 persons or 43% of the total County population resided in an incorporated area. In the absence of growth management, schools will continue to struggle with increases in enrollments and/or student population shifts in student attendance areas. Current growth trends will require WCPS to shift service needs for potential additional households in more outlying areas (see MAP 2.4 Development Pattern). With most of our schools operating at or over capacity we will likely have to play catch-up to the subdivision development depending on where it continues to flourish. We need to continue to plan for additional capacity in the necessary attendance areas within growth areas and address attendance boundaries in non-growth areas to balance shifts in student populations. Significant future growth will require a combination of additions to existing facilities as well as new or replacement schools. This would require a commitment and investment of resources at both the local and state levels. Within Wicomico County and more specifically the City of Salisbury there appears to be a trend within metro core neighborhoods (and areas designated as county immediately adjacent) where the existing detached homes are becoming rental dwellings instead of single family owned. There has been on-going discussion in several “neighborhood preservation districts” related to this trend. The Salisbury Municipal Code has a dedicated Chapter 15.26, Rental of Residential Premises to address the increased number of rental properties and created a department to address the need to register, license and oversee these rental properties. The increase of rental properties appears to be related to a few things, including the expansion of Salisbury University and the need for additional student housing and the previously inflated real estate market and the need for affordable housing. We continue to see student population’s shift within our inner city school boundaries and there may be a correlation to this and the increase in rental homes. COMMUNITY PLANNING The state is actively encouraging Smart Growth through community planning and public school construction. Smaller schools, walking or biking to school, co-use of schools and land banking procedures are a few of the priorities of the Maryland

Department of Planning (MDP) related to smart growth. WCPS continues to coordinate and communicate with our local municipalities regarding our school planning efforts. WCPS has already incorporated many Smart Growth strategies into our planning initiatives. As many municipalities are in the process of updating their comprehensive plans, we look forward to having additional information to assist us with our school facility planning.

Wicomico County Public Schools Educational Facilities Master Plan FY 2022

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