Worcester County hears schematic design for Buckingham Elementary replacement; health clinic and community space included

Worcester County Commissioners on June 17 heard a presentation from the Worcester County Board of Education and project architect Allison Shockley on the schematic design for a replacement Buckingham Elementary School in Berlin. The Board of Education approved the schematic design last month; designers told commissioners they are seeking county support before a formal schematic submission to the state.

The design team said the two‑story school will occupy approximately 90,837 square feet. The selected site (the option closest to Main Street) provides separate car and bus loops, a continuous pedestrian and bike path, and room for on‑site car stacking. "We can stack a 100 cars on-site without backing up onto West Street," Allison Shockley, project architect, told the commissioners.

Why it matters: Buckingham is the district's only Title I school in the north end of the county, the presenters and board members said, and the schematic includes shared community spaces that the board and the design team said are intended to serve both students and nearby residents. The proposal includes a Judy Center and a community health clinic and sets a path for state review, design development and…