By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(March 11, 2021) The Worcester County Commissioners last Tuesday agreed to provide the local school system nearly $1.5 million for the Pocomoke Middle School roof replacement project and $109,000 to continue into the pre-construction phase and bidding process for the Stephen Decatur Middle School Addition project.

Lou Taylor

“The project to replace the 26-year-old at Pocomoke Middle School has been included in both the county and the board of education capital improvement plans to follow the completion of the Showell Elementary Replacement School project,” said Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor.

He said the Board of Education received and opened bids for the Pocomoke Middle School roof replacement project on Jan. 7. Then, the school board approved the $2.6 million bid from Flynn Mid-Atlantic on Jan. 19.

The state approved $1,275,000 for the project last May in the FY21 capital improvement plan.

“With your funding approval today, we will execute a contract with Flynn Mid-Atlantic and the work will be accomplished this summer,” Taylor said.

Additionally, design documents for the Stephen Decatur Middle School Addition project were completed with the design funding provided by the county in FY20 and FY21.

In December 2020, the state informed the school board that the Interagency Commission on School Construction staff recommended the approval of $3.7 million of the $4.8 million FY22 capital improvement request for funding the project.

“The final state funding amount for the project will be announced in May,” Taylor said.

The construction bidding process is expected to begin in August. Construction could begin on the addition in November, pending the county’s approval.

Following review of the bid documents and approval of bids by the board of education, Taylor said board members will request final construction and project funding for the project from the commissioners.

Both funding requests were approved unanimously without discussion.