By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer
(Jan. 26, 2023) The following was discussed at the Jan. 17 Board of Education meeting:
New members of the Worcester County Board of Education are sworn in. PHOTO COURTESY WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BES replacement
Representatives for the Becker Morgan Group presented their feasibility study for the replacement or renovation of Buckingham Elementary School in Berlin during the meeting and highlighted two options.
The group recommended option “B,” a replacement school for a total cost of $60.7 million. The local funding request would be $55.9 million.
Option A would be to renovate and add on to the current school, which is projected to cost $68.6 million but could increase to upwards of $82.8 million with potential price escalations factored in. The local funding request would be $65.6 million.
The replacement school option could cost around $73.1 million with escalation factored in.
The elementary school in its current iteration opened its doors in 1978.
Board members
Prior to the start of the meeting, re-elected members Bill Buchanan, Todd Ferrante, Bill Gordy, and newly-elected Katie Addis were sworn into service on the Board of Education.
Addis replaces Nathaniel Passwaters, who was appointed to the seat following the sudden passing of Eric W. Cropper in July 2021.
Ferrante was elected as board president and Buchanan as vice president for the 2023 board.
Teacher of the Year
Worcester County Public Schools Superintendent Lou Taylor presented the nominees for the 2023 Worcester County Teacher of the Year during the meeting.
Those nominees are Chris Adkins (Snow Hill High School), Michelle Bradley (Pocomoke High School), Dawn Davis (Snow Hill Elementary School), Carli Dixon (Pocomoke Elementary School), Silviya Gallo (Worcester Technical High School), Michaela Hatlee (Buckingham Elementary School), Wendy Macrides (Ocean City Elementary School), Kristin Morris (Cedar Chapel Special School), Jaimie Ridgley (Stephen Decatur Middle School), Kristina Salvorola (Snow Hill Middle School), Elizabeth Singer (Showell Elementary School), Brittany Tracy (Stephen Decatur High School), David Wells (Berlin Intermediate School) and Stephen Zubko (Pocomoke Middle School).
“These teachers are amazing examples of the high-quality teaching occurring in our classrooms across this county,” Taylor said. “I hope the next time you enter one of those schools, you’ll join me in congratulating each of these educators.”
The 2023 Teacher of the Year will be announced on March 24.
ESSA
Dr. Tom Hamill, coordinator of research and student information systems and grant manager Dr. Brian Cook presented the updated ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Consolidated Plan for the 2022-23 school year at the meeting.
The plan is meant to highlight focus areas and goals for improving the school experience for Worcester County students.
Goals included improving i-Ready (an online program) assessment scores in English language arts and mathematics, a safety goal to reduce chronic absences and risk ratios and a gifted and talented goal to increase minority student representation, development time for gifted and talented teachers and increased STATT (Skilled Trades, agriculture, Technology and Tourism) enrollment.
SDMS addition
The Stephen Decatur Middle School addition is now in use following the winter break, meeting its opening goal. Stormwater accommodations were completed in the last 30 days and courtyard plantings have been installed. Still to come is artificial turf and lighting in the courtyard, waiting for grass to grow around the property and CCTV and intercom replacements, the latter should be completed over the next month.