WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. - Almost seven years of planning, pushing and penny pinching has finally reached its peak. The fate of Bennett Middle School now lays in the hands of the Wicomico County Council. If approved, the county would foot the bill for 42 of the 75 million dollars needed for the entire project. The state would pay the rest.
"We have the highest percentage of reimbursement for allowable construction costs ever in state history of 96 percent, so it's an opportunity we cant seem to pass up. We've got to go after it," said superintendent Dr. John Frederickson.
Just last month, the community put their tools and paint brushes to good use, for minor renovations. However, between the lack of air conditioning and wheel chair accessibility, far more needs to be done.
"Another issue at the school is technology issues because our wiring is so poor we can't have the technology that the other middle school offers," said Principal Liza Hastings.
"The environment makes a big difference and we want to make sure its conducive to learning," said Wicomico County Councilwoman Sheree-Sample Hughes.
She says she was once a student at Bennett Middle and says not much has changed, which is one reason why she says this project has her full support. As for her colleagues, she says mostly everyone is on board.
If the council votes Thursday night as planned, they will be able to go to the bond market in October, moving the funding process forward.
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