GROWTH AREAS While the concept of “Smart Growth” is valuable for overall community development, its impact on school development is restrictive for WCPS in relation to current local growth patterns. Smart Growth encourages development within designated growth areas that are supported by existing public water and sewer infrastructure. It also prioritizes the renovation of existing schools in existing neighborhoods over the construction of new schools. Of the twenty-four (24) public school facilities located in Wicomico County, ten (10) are operating “over” capacity (see 4.2 Growth & School Facility Status). This does not include the Early Learning Transitions (ELT) program or Choices (Alternative Learning Center). These specific programs operate in separate facilities. All of WCPS schools are located within a Priority Funding Area (PFA) as shown in Section 4.3 following this section. Priority Funding Areas are locations where the State and local governments want to target their efforts to encourage and support economic development and new growth. WCPS remains concerned about the amount of single-family and multi-family development activity within the Delmar, DE area but we are unable to track growth data for the state of Delaware. Subjective observation and unofficial reports indicate additional residential growth is continuing. This will exacerbate the current overcrowded conditions at Delmar Elementary and the site has very little room for expansion. The adopted 2017 Wicomico County Comprehensive Plan projects the County population could reach 119,200 people by 2030. We are experiencing growth in our community and the implication of future projections to our school system will be significant. In the absence of growth management tools, such as an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), schools will continue to struggle with increases in enrollments and/or student population shifts in attendance areas. Current growth trends support a School Boundary Adjustment which will be initiated in SY 2025-2026. Increased enrollments are starting to require WCPS to shift service needs for additional households in the Metro Core area (see 4.2 Wicomico County Map: Development Pattern). With elementary schools operating at or over capacity WCPS is seeing results of development as it continues to expand. Current enrollment is requiring relocatables while future growth would necessitate a combination of additions to existing facilities as well as new or replacement schools. This would require a commitment and investment of resources at both the local and State levels which is a challenge given current fiscal constraints. 111
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