Garrett County schools staff recommend moving Accident students to Northern Middle campus; proposal raises community questions about facilities and timing

Superintendent Dr. McCartney presented a discussion draft to the Garrett County Board of Education proposing two staged moves: to send eighth-grade students to Northern Garrett High School for the 2025–26 school year and to relocate Accident Elementary into the Northern Middle School campus in fiscal 2026–27 to create a Pre-K–7 school, with the aim of consolidating facilities and expanding programs.

Why it matters: The superintendent said the consolidation would save operating money and local capital dollars while preserving and strengthening “community school” programs. Staff described educational and programmatic opportunities they say would follow from the move and told the board the plan would allow time to complete building upgrades and to seek state capital support through the Interagency Commission process.

Dr. McCartney told the board she reviewed past studies of facilities and emphasized equity, stewardship of system resources and continuity of programming. Assistant staff described expected educational benefits, including access to more staff for specialized programs now at Accident Elementary (regional ALP and STARS programs) and potential expansion of…