The Caroline County Board of Education voted during a special meeting on Tuesday, August 11 to approve the specific location where the new middle school will be constructed on the North Caroline High School campus.
Superintendent Dr. Derek Simmons reviewed the full process to date and explained the urgency of determining the specific site on the property. During the 2025-26 legislative session, the funding structure was amended for certain school systems, one of those being Caroline County Public Schools. The state share of eligible costs for FY2027 and FY2028 was increased to its highest levels in many years, with FY2028 expected to be the most expensive year of construction.
To maximize the use of state funding, it is imperative the Lockerman Middle School project remain on its current schedule, including submission of the next set of documents, which must identify the building site on the property by September 1. Delaying this decision would have a profound impact on both the timeline and funding of this project, extending major construction costs into FY2029 and beyond. The state’s funding formula for FY2029 is not known at this time.
“We have a responsibility to maximize the use of other people’s dollars,” Dr. Simmons said. “Missing this deadline puts us back another year, and we don’t know what funding will look like then.”
Architect Todd Vukmanic and Planning Consultant Dr. David Lever delivered a detailed presentation to the Board. They explained that while several potential building locations on the high school property were evaluated, one specific option (Option 2B in the presentation) offered the strongest alternatives for feasibility, safety, and long-term planning.
The campus’s natural ridge and drainage channel make other locations on the site more complex, requiring extended permitting and environmental review.
Placing the building at the Option 2B location allows a holistic design approach, including intentional separation of public and private spaces inside the building and across the shared campus grounds.
The selected site supports safer traffic flow, efficient utility connections, and a cohesive long-term campus plan.
In addition, presenters shared that once a specific site was approved, next steps include several environmental studies and traffic flow studies of the existing middle school site and the new site that may result in recommendations for improvements to the existing roadway. In addition, based on findings in subsequent site work, adjustments may be made to the exact positioning of the building and surrounding details.
Complete details and next steps are available on the New Lockerman Middle School Plans page of the Caroline County Public Schools website.