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County planning staff: two elementary additions removed from master plan after enrollment declines
Summary
Carroll County school planning staff told the Planning and Zoning Commission the 10‑year master plan was updated to remove two previously proposed elementary additions after two years of lower enrollment; Liberty High is slated for a feasibility study in the county's proposed capital budget.
Carroll County school planning staff presented the annual update to the 10‑year educational facilities master plan on May 19, noting changes driven by updated enrollment projections.
Bill (county schools staff) told the commission the two previously proposed elementary additions — for Freedom and Sykesville areas — were removed from this year's plan because enrollment has declined over the past two school years by roughly 400 students countywide. “The big change... the two additions... have been removed from the plan, and that's really based on the enrollment the new updated enrollment projections,” he said. Under the new projections, no schools are projected to exceed 120% utilization over the next six years, though Freedom Elementary and Sykesville show years approaching or slightly above 110–115% in shorter‑term outlooks.
The presentation outlined a phased pre‑K expansion that will add about 10 classrooms over this summer and next, providing approximately 200 pre‑K seats. Bill also said the proposed county capital budget includes funding for a Liberty High feasibility study to assess modernization or replacement options; if funded, the feasibility study is expected to be completed by winter for Board of Education review.
Staff said the plan will be shared electronically with the commission and come back in June with a draft letter of comment and findings of consistency for the Board of Education to submit to the state.
Next steps: Commission review and comment in June; the Board of Education will consider the plan and submit to the Maryland Department of Planning and the Interagency Commission on School Construction as required for capital funding eligibility.
