Public shows overwhelming support for Wicomico Imagine 2022 plan

SALISBURY, Md. – This room packed with locals at the Youth and Civic Center tackled Wicomico County’s Imagine 2022 plan Wednesday night in a public forum.

A $790,000 school plan that includes universal Pre-K and teacher pay raises.

Many in the room were on board with the plan, and pointed to the benefits universal Pre-K can have for area students, including more prepared and developed students for K-12 and more diverse classroom experiences.

“Even though it’s not a part of the first 12 years of education, it still is vital because it exposes them to the world around them,” said Dorien Rogers, a Salisbury University student who attended Wednesday.

Parents also point out the effects universal Pre-K can have on parents, especially single parent households who can focus more on family income while their child is in class.

The plan comes with a 3-percent raise for county teachers, an important point for trying to entice more qualified teachers, and with a pay raise, parents believe it could lead to more orderly schools.

The comments took place during a county budget forum meeting. County Executive Bob Culver will consider the suggestions when creating the Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget.

His office says final decisions will be based on prioritization of need and available funding sources.