Board of Ed Selects Walkersville for Rock Creek School
After voting overwhelmingly against building a new Rock Creek School in Walkersville, the Frederick County Board of Education voted in the exact opposite to do just that.
A large group of people from the Monocacy Middle School area attended and opposed locating Rock Creek on their school grounds. They announced that they had been involved in discussions with the school system for a year about the project.
Most of Walkersville learned of the project yesterday, and others just a few weeks ago. School system staff said they spoke to “the Town”, and met little resistance.
In an initial motion to accept stafg recommendations, board members Joy Schaefer and Liz Barrett were the only votes in favor of siting the new school on the grounds of Walkersville Middle School.
After that failed vote, Board member Michael Bunitsky moved to build the school in the grounds of T.J. Middle School. As he made the motion, staff members made a face that prompted him to inquire further.
Staff suggested the T.J. site, which was third on their list, was no good and they couldn’t understand why it scored so high. They suggested in fill dirt would cost a million dollars.
Mr. Bunitsky withdrew his motion.
Board member Ken Kerr then moved to accept the staff recommendation of Walkersville. This time, only Board President Brad Young amd Vice-President April Miller voted against the motion.
Both Mr. Young and Dr. Miller cited numerous concerns with Walkersville as the location, and attempted earlier to table the vote.
School system staff anticipate construction beginning in 2020 with an opening in 2022.
