[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",5973733,"mediaKeyId","5834529-cd9d78441c6d2fd72bd258a1cce238d9","parentId",5834529,"title","District updates on roofs, tracks, geothermal pilots and backlog: county staff report maintenance cycle and energy savings","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5446000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834529-cd9d78441c6d2fd72bd258a1cce238d9&start=5446&end=5446","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834529-cd9d78441c6d2fd72bd258a1cce238d9/thumbnail_5446000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5973733/Carroll-County/Maryland/District-updates-on-roofs-tracks-geothermal-pilots-and-backlog-county-staff-report-maintenance-cycle-and-energy-savings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973733-ea5312e4779b707698556eaadd7a7c86/orig.mp4?Expires=1770650315&Signature=lN-TPRXSxCtrB7SeKlnQsJHmj5BHbVQ1A5PpuOAA9uUVZuuBI2Hx7sIAdYrZ57ps6cNoG0gGxj4hvMjzqgxlELw6W~9HQmmCu8j1B8fPIF5ORr8jzPEau2-uzey~J94oijOpJqiMaxR6lfxwdtH7RbP-6WXY~A1CM2eiHpIgiEnrG9MImqeCVeGkSo25nm6SoTOS1PCNCvnShPAI835NRIN01x2Tkl8bCQs0niWfXXSRs5gVwBxShEpSpDoTh5JxiHooa--hEK4jAmId9HzR35B4nX31XtN6lzc~6tMuVnjLZ14EocjP04Wx0W8ZnLQOKMweOBLZcJG~oc9oIU6BCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CarrollCountyGov","date","2025-09-26T00:00:00Z","article","County and school facilities staff updated boards on a range of maintenance and energy items: paving and roofing cycles, track repairs, and geothermal heating and cooling installations.

Staff said most failed paving conditions have been addressed and the district is now cycling paving to coordinate with construction work so new paving is not damaged by heavy equipment. The roofing program is nearing completion of older single‑ply roofs; staff said finishing the last single‑ply systems (Century and others) is near the end of the current multi‑year cycle.

On track surfaces, staff said Liberty’s track received repairs over the past summer and that tracks across the system follow a roughly 10-year replacement/repair cycle. Facilities staff said tracks are on an established maintenance schedule.

Geothermal: staff described previous geothermal installations as having higher first‑costs because of drilling and ground loops but returning energy savings and operational benefits in the mid-term. Staff reported estimated energy efficiencies in the 20–30% range on completed geothermal projects and an estimated payback window of roughly four to eight years at the time of last analysis; staff noted actual payback will vary by site and energy prices. The geothermal systems use distributed heat pumps that provide redundancy (a failed compressor affects a classroom rather than an entire school chiller) and can improve comfort and zoned control.

Facilities leadership said the district has no dedicated energy manager position currently but is evaluating future projects, including geothermal for Northwest Middle. Staff also said prior installations by county recreation and parks helped streamline procurement and product testing in recent projects.

Ending: officials described these items as part of a larger facilities plan that prioritizes modernization versus system repairs depending on funding. They advised boards that escalating statewide construction costs and relatively flat state CIP funding make project prioritization critical.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Meeting with Board of Education and County Commissioners, September 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","School and county staff briefed the joint meeting on facility maintenance progress, recent track repairs, roof and paving cycles, and results from geothermal heat-pump installations, which show energy savings and operational advantages according to staff.","taxTitle","Carroll County, Maryland","taxId",7748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5973738,"County installs new stadium lighting after safety report; Liberty game proceeds Thursday",603,4589000,5192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834529-cd9d78441c6d2fd72bd258a1cce238d9&start=4589&end=5192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834529-cd9d78441c6d2fd72bd258a1cce238d9/thumbnail_4589000.jpg","/articles/5973738/Carroll-County/Maryland/County-installs-new-stadium-lighting-after-safety-report-Liberty-game-proceeds-Thursday","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973738-81a35ce7be44ec638b49d7cfdb1dcd16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770650315&Signature=DfX2MUVE~5yxT8vnpamNQkyXjdmBED71UA37gaB1YrqRKwXz9PbTofje26tjxxeVvhrhp87bycT6GLIrSCAUKRnbTkamRD4V1Qh8PooR2wAoQ6tYB2cLg2UBus2DznZOQCebhhMEOQTT-6GPagkKSzKX-BhFGR0k96o50av4SCt6DN87sLMvDJFlqtF17fbPptnUgwolOgYLPq3-BkZOH4QQATwEpZ4a1p2w1ahecsYV~ODJmKQNBNAi9z~SJAkiMh-3WEbAZeq6YBgjgJpOxLlBXfSGBTyD1vuZpRECvf772ZadaXoA-ZgBprI8xGHoVGoS4x1ZfmbAsXz5XgAMSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","School and county facilities staff said they expedited replacement of stadium lighting at Liberty High and Westminster High after a structural inspection raised safety concerns about light poles.

Facilities leaders told the joint meeting that initial attempts to provide temporary lighting failed to meet performance needs, so crews moved to install permanent LED systems. Contractor and county staff work put the poles and fixtures in place within weeks; staff said the fixtures are LED systems with programmable controls, long rated lifespans and modular LED modules that can be replaced without work on elevated catwalks.

Facilities supervisor Joe Morningstar and assistant supervisor Dave Valentine (project manager) were singled out in the meeting for working long days to get the installations completed and tested. County and school staff said Liberty’s lights were tested and ready for a Thursday night game and Westminster’s testing was scheduled immediately afterward.

Why it matters: officials said the old poles were judged structurally unsafe to host crowds and continuing to use those stands without remediation would have risked canceling an entire season. Staff emphasized there was no intention to cancel scheduled events and that the expedited procurement and installation avoided that outcome.

Technical details discussed at the meeting included LED fixtures’ instant on/off capability, programmable light levels (low/medium/high), and modular LED components (replacement modules are small and light). Staff also noted the county’s prior use of the same vendor and product in parks facilities sped procurement and reduced vendor evaluation time.

Quotations from staff: Dr. McCabe said the board and county were “very surprised” by the report and that officials “thought the first thing we thought is there is no way we can give up this whole season for our students.” Facilities staff added that “a couple weeks after that, all 8 poles are up for each stadium” and the fixtures had been tested at Liberty.

No vote or formal action was taken; staff completed the work through emergency procurement and project management. The athletic seasons at both schools were expected to continue as scheduled, with testing and any final checks completed within days of the meeting.","County and school facilities staff replaced stadium lights at Liberty and Westminster high schools after inspections showed poles at risk; temporary interim lighting proved insufficient and permanent LED systems were installed and tested on an expedited schedule.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5973744,"Board and commissioners weigh pausing school additions as enrollment falls and local costs rise",613,147000,760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834529-cd9d78441c6d2fd72bd258a1cce238d9&start=147&end=760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834529-cd9d78441c6d2fd72bd258a1cce238d9/thumbnail_147000.jpg","/articles/5973744/Carroll-County/Maryland/Board-and-commissioners-weigh-pausing-school-additions-as-enrollment-falls-and-local-costs-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973744-3de40bacd91a1bb5286937203319352d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770650315&Signature=WFQR7oq3NMdQmKpZOSEUFINCd0D99OQ7E6aUJpyjPFRWCDJAdPoHYlyEXHYXkiullfuTClD8e9Y8Fy9cmO-Q7~4BSSHHy9WuoPZ9Mxr6hYUX1Dor4OPheq6a9zhIgsYZh0w5V7Fm5nkFKRMEVbHjneQ-nG8HH~M0Po5BgpyFnL0kOSVi7W43LrCzIItWRvmr1RBEzarROJ0Oko0-Vf3oHmdfqyQoVkJxxVxZUpwRqb3l7j3rKjB8EcVsnrlRGRwLVexBexypa8RYidPIvF4fLBW4UrlxxacI7f3MobkruCflXcgj5-nPbtC9LT9FFCchMEnUs5svMBVB-I4wOw2wYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. McCabe said the Board of Education and county commissioners should reconsider timing for two planned school additions after “conditions have changed since the board made the decision to move forward with additions.” The board received a draft capital improvement plan (CIP) in September and is scheduled to vote on the CIP at its October meeting.

The discussion centered on two projects: Freedom Elementary (two additions totaling five classrooms to replace six relocatable classrooms on site) and Sykesville Middle (a 10-classroom addition). Board and staff presentations said the Freedom project now carries about $1.3 million in additional local cost because a sprinkler requirement for the addition triggered the need for a fire pump. That pump requires connection to an emergency generator and related upgrades, “a domino effect” that increased the local share, staff said.

Why it matters: state participation in school construction is driven in part by projected enrollment and state-rated capacity. County staff told the joint meeting that enrollments in the southern region have declined for two successive years and that three weeks into the new school year the trend continued. That drop created roughly 300 available seats in the region compared with earlier projections showing no available seats, officials said. For Sykesville, staff said the decline reduces anticipated state participation and could lower an estimated state-eligible share from about $10.3 million to roughly $7.1 million if certain boundary adjustments and a waiver are approved; if those adjustments are not approved, staff warned, the county’s local cost could be higher.

Board and county staff described the projects’ history: feasibility studies were commissioned in February 2022, projects were added to the CIP in February 2023, and design is complete. Staff emphasized that design costs have been spent but the county would still need capital funds to proceed to construction. “Before we proceed to construction, it felt like this was the perfect timing to have this conversation with the two boards,” a county staff member said.

Discussion points included site constraints at Freedom, which staff said occupies about half the acreage typically used for a new elementary school today and would require relocating a recently installed playground and building retaining walls. Several commissioners and a board member urged caution because Freedom is a 70-year-old building that may need eventual replacement rather than repeated investment: “If we keep investing, the rationale for a new building could keep getting pushed off,” Commissioner Krebs said.

Board member Zimmer and others raised redistricting and alternative program options. Staff said the system’s phased pre-K expansion (two full-day pre-K classrooms per elementary in phases) factors into project timing; Freedom currently lacks an on-site pre-K and the planned addition would add pre-K capacity. Staff also discussed the state’s blueprint process and an ongoing waiver with the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC/AIB consultants), saying that earlier concerns about large staff reallocations under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future appear less severe than initially feared.

No formal motions were made at the joint meeting. Commissioners and board members expressed differing views: some urged pausing the projects to monitor two more years of official enrollments and to avoid sunk-cost decision-making; others urged moving ahead to avoid postponing needed repairs and modernizations.

What happens next: the Board of Education will take a formal vote on the CIP at its October meeting. County staff noted the design funds already spent would be a sunk cost if construction is paused, but that operating the schools as-is is feasible in the short term—the relocatable classrooms and current traffic/parking challenges would remain.

Clarifying details from the meeting: staff said the state’s annual enrollment reporting dates are Sept. 30 (systemwide counts) and Oct. 31 (special program counts); staff provided updated, unofficial three-week enrollment figures ahead of state certification. Staff said the county’s local guidelines typically assume minimum elementary site size around 15 acres, while Freedom’s site is substantially smaller. The Freedom cost increase of about $1.3 million was presented as the incremental local cost tied to sprinkler/pressure/fire-pump requirements; the original Sykesville estimate referenced in discussion was about $10.3 million, with a potential reduced state-eligible estimate of roughly $7.1 million under best-case waiver/boundary adjustments.

Ending: Board members and commissioners agreed the October Board of Education vote need not be irrevocable and several suggested pausing or phasing decisions while monitoring official enrollment certifications and the ongoing state waiver process. The joint discussion was intended to inform that October action.","School officials and county commissioners discussed whether to proceed with planned additions at Freedom Elementary and Sykesville Middle after updated designs, a $1.3 million local cost increase at Freedom and a drop in projected enrollments that reduces anticipated state participation.","actionData","errors"]

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District updates on roofs, tracks, geothermal pilots and backlog: county staff report maintenance cycle and energy savings

County installs new stadium lighting after safety report; Liberty game proceeds Thursday

Board and commissioners weigh pausing school additions as enrollment falls and local costs rise