County, School Officials Walk With Students On New Safe Sidewalks Near Salisbury Middle School

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., Wicomico County First District Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes, Wicomico County Board of Education President Michelle Wright, Wicomico County Schools Superintendent John Fredericksen, Acting Wicomico County Director of Public Works John Redden and others involved in the Safe Routes to School sidewalk project joined Principal Amy Eskridge and students from Salisbury Middle School as they used their new sidewalks to leave school on Tuesday, Aug. 31, the first full day for all students at Salisbury Middle.

The walk marked the official opening of the $351,500 “Safe Routes to School” project which provided 31,000 square feet of new and improved sidewalks around and near Salisbury Middle School. Funded by a grant from the Maryland State Highway Administration, the work was planned and completed by the Wicomico County Department of Public Works.

County Executive Pollitt commented that, “I am confident that all county officials, educators and parents are very grateful that we have made these grant-funded sidewalk improvements which will enable our children to have a safer walk to and from school.”

Amy Eskridge, principal of Salisbury Middle School, said, "It was a long time coming and a much needed project. It's great because students don't have to walk in the street, so they are safer walking to and from school."

The project is well aligned with the Board of Education's three Master Plan strategic priorities of Safe Learning Environment and Effective and Efficient Operations, and will support the third strategic priority of High Student Achievement.