Board approves Fruitland Primary construction documents; bid and mobilization depend on state and county funding

The Wicomico County Board of Education voted to approve construction documents for the replacement Fruitland Primary School and authorized staff to submit the documents to the state for review.

"The construction documents before you were approved by the school building commission on January 23 and presented for your review at the January 28 work session," Dr. Reager, a WCPS staff member, said. He told the board the state Department of General Services would review the submission and that an authorization to bid could come by April 2025, with potential June 2025 mobilization for construction contingent on the IAC's FY2026 CIP funding allocation and county approval.

A board member asked when the school is expected to be finished; staff responded the construction period is expected to be two years.

Why it matters: Approving construction documents advances the replacement project through state review and toward bidding. Staff emphasized the timeline depends on Interagency Commission (IAC) funding and county capital approvals.

Vote: The motion to authorize submission and proceed passed on roll‑call: Mr. Palmer (aye), Miss Hazel (aye), Mr. Plots (aye), Mrs. Beauchamp (aye), Mr. Brown (aye), Dr. Ennis (aye), and the chair voted aye.

Next steps: Staff will submit documents to the state Department of General Services, await review and comment, seek authorization to bid, and—if funding is allocated and county approvals follow—begin mobilization in mid 2025 with an estimated two‑year construction timeline.