BOE Close To Acquiring Property For Bennett Middle School

The Wicomico County Board of Education is close to completing its evaluation of two properties as sites for the relocated Bennett Middle School, and the school system hopes to acquire one of the two properties for the project in the near future, the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen announced Tuesday, April 21.

Earlier this year, the Board signed six-month purchase options on two properties in the Bennett Middle attendance areas, and since then the school system has been evaluating each property for suitability. Both sites have been under serious consideration and review for many factors including drainage, layout for school buildings and associated facilities, road access, availability of utilities, area around the parcel, and environmental factors. The evaluation process is being done in cooperation with the state, which has a clearinghouse for evaluating potential school sites.

Wicomico County has already sold capital bonds to make available funds to the Board of Education for the acquisition of the final selected property.

One property is in the city of Fruitland, located along the north side of South Division Street between Route 13 and South Camden Avenue. It is approximately 35 acres.

The second property is located in the City of Salisbury on the southwest side of Snow Hill Road, on the northwest side of Toadvine Road. It is also approximately 35 acres.

Wicomico County residents can comment on the site selection process for the relocation of Bennett Middle School by e-mailing comments to comments@wcboe.org or mailing them to Wicomico County Board of Education, c/o Donna Anderson, PO Box 1538, Salisbury, Md., 21802. Comments may also be made during the public comment portion of monthly Board meetings (the next regular meeting is scheduled for May 12), or during the next Superintendent's Open Door Session, 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the Superintendent's Office.

The acquisition of property for relocating Bennett Middle School is a key part of the current construction of a replacement James M. Bennett High School. Right now, James M. Bennett High and Bennett Middle are located on the same site with a shared auditorium. A 2005 feasibility study approved by the state recommended the replacement of James M. Bennett High on the existing site in conjunction with the relocation and replacement of Bennett Middle.

When the replacement James M. Bennett High opens, the existing James M. Bennett High will be demolished, but full development of the Bennett site for the high school will not be possible until a relocated Bennett Middle opens and the existing Bennett Middle is torn down.

The preliminary construction schedule for the replacement of Bennett Middle School has construction beginning in 2011, with occupancy of the relocated Bennett Middle and demolition of the existing Bennett Middle in 2014. Wicomico County is currently seeking state planning approval for the Bennett Middle School project.