The Facilities Division is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the ten Somerset County Public School buildings as well as the Central Office and Maintenance buildings. The goals of the Somerset County Public Schools Facilities Division are:

1. To provide buildings that function at top efficiency.

2. To provide buildings that are safe, sanitary, properly equipped, lighted, ventilated and aesthetically suited to promoting the goals of the schools.

3. To maintain the plant, buildings and grounds and fixed equipment in such a manner as to eliminate or reduce; fires, accidents, and safety hazards.

4. To provide continuous use of facilities without disruptions to the educational program.

5. To protect public property by planned and scheduled repair or maintenance.

6. To conserve energy by insuring that the maximum results are obtained with minimum expenditure of energy and human resources. 

Each year in the fall, the annual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is submitted to the Maryland Public School Construction Program.  The format and content of the document must be prepared in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Guide of the Public School Construction Program. 

In compliance with Board Policy 400-10, any architect, engineer, or construction consultant interested in being considered for selection for the design of school construction projects must be pre-qualified. Please find the Contractor Prequalification form here. Completed forms should be returned to Jon Hill (jhill@somerset.k12.md.us), Facilities department.

The Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) serves as a planning document and a precursor to the Capital Improvement Plan which is submitted each fall to the Public School Construction Program.   

The Master Plan has been carefully coordinated with the objectives of the Somerset County Planning and Zoning Commission’s Comprehensive Plan and the objectives of the Somerset County Economic Development Commission. Facility inventory and needs are presented, evaluated, and identified to guide future planning objectives.  The plan provides a detailed inventory of the existing facilities, including the year each was built, square footages, enrollment, ages of systems, etc.  It also provides a detailed breakdown of the physical condition of each individual school and its needs.  The EFMP identifies completed, current, and future planned Capital Improvement requests. 

The Somerset County Board of Education Facilities Department is responsible for the planning, coordination, funding, and supervision of all construction projects.  We work closely with the Public School Construction Program for Construction and Renovation funding and with the local government for matching funding needed for projects. Projects often include Engineering, Architectural and Construction Management components that require additional funding.  Current and Past projects are listed below. 

Somerset County Technical High School

• Project overview: Replacement of the existing J.M. Tawes Technology & Career Center building from 1976 which was shared with the Board of Education offices.

• Project is part of the Maryland Public School Construction Program FY18,19, & 20 Capital Improvement Plan 

• Oak Contracting Inc. completed this project in September 2019.

Somerset County Public Schools maintenance technicians are each responsible for two of the ten schools where they are deployed throughout the week unless called upon to team with the other technicians on a larger project. The two remaining schools are shared by all four maintenance technicians.  The County is divided into Northwestern, Northern, Central, and Southern regions with the technicians generally remaining in their schools’ regions to maintain quick response time and minimize travel expenses.

Building Principals submit requests electronically to the Supervisor of Maintenance.  The supervisor catalogs those requests into work order lists, organized by school and by priority, and distributes those lists to the Maintenance Technicians.  A record of work orders completed to date is kept on file at the Central Office.

Somerset County Public Schools strives to anticipate and prepare for corrective maintenance or minor repairs throughout the year.  Typically corrective maintenance is performed by the Somerset County Public Schools Maintenance Technicians.  These actions include but are not limited to minor technology wiring, replacing broken plumbing fixtures, replacing ballasts in light fixtures, patch and repair of surfaces, replacing hardware, ceiling tiles, minor carpentry requests, HVAC troubleshooting, kitchen equipment repairs, etc. When work exceeds the ability or resources of the in-house staff, outside contractors may be required.

Outside contractors are used for corrective maintenance such as painting, carpet and tile replacement, asbestos removal, fire alarm system upgrades or repairs, elevator repairs, fencing, playground equipment, roof patch and repair, concrete sidewalk repairs, paving, large scale demolition, minor construction of partitions, installation of new doors and frames, major electrical work, major technology wiring, etc.

The Somerset County Public Schools Maintenance technicians perform preventive maintenance activities throughout the year.  Those activities include cleaning and lubrication of equipment, changing filters, checking levels of Freon, changing batteries, inspecting fire extinguishers, checking major HVAC equipment for normal operation, and routine visual inspections of roofs, drains, and other major building components to name a few.  Somerset County Public Schools understands that by performing preventive maintenance as the manufacturer recommends, the useful life of the equipment will have a longer life expectancy.

In addition to the preventative maintenance performed by the in-house staff, Somerset County Public Schools holds service maintenance contracts and/or agreements for the following routine inspections:

• Fire Sprinkler Inspections

• Fire Extinguisher Inspections

• Boiler Inspections

• Infrared Testing

• Roof Inspections

• Playground Inspections

• AHERA Surveillance Inspections

• Water Supply Testing

• Life Safety Inspections

• Elevator Inspections

• Generator Maintenance

The comprehensive maintenance plan is established to develop, maintain, and/or improve the maintenance program of the Somerset County Public Schools in support of the delivery of educational programs and services in safe and healthy environments as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Somerset County Public Schools strives to ensure energy and natural resources conservation while exercising sound financial management.  We maintain accurate records of energy consumption and cost of energy and provide information on the goals and progress of the energy conservation program.  Principals are accountable for energy management on his/her campus with energy audits being conducted and conservation program outlines being updated.  Judicious use of the various energy systems of each campus is the joint responsibility of the principal, maintenance person, and head custodian to ensure that an efficient energy posture is maintained on a daily basis.  All district personnel are expected to contribute to energy efficiency in our district. Every person is expected to be an “energy saver” as well as an “energy consumer.”​

We have just completed the 120th ​month (10 years) of our energy savings program.  For the period April 2008 through March 2018,

Our schools have saved a total of $3,380,584

or 31.6% in cost avoidance. For the month of March 2018, schools saved $15,654 or 17.3% in cost avoidance. Since April 2008, we have saved approximately 26,403,469 kilowatt hours (KWH) of electricity. Currently, a kilowatt-hour cost approximately $0.1186.

These results would not have been possible without the help and cooperation of many people.  A special thanks to the Maintenance Department for their daily efforts to keep each building running as efficiently as possible.  To those administrators and staff members who have consistently tried to help conserve and save, THANK YOU!!

The Board of Education encourages the use of public school facilities for community purposes.

Organizations and individuals within the community may request the use of buildings, or parts thereof, for meetings or for activities. An Application For Use of School Facilities (see administrative procedures 200-13) must be completed and signed by a community member or an officer of the organization making the request. The signed application should be submitted to the Building Principal along with appropriate payment and documentation ten (10) days in advance of the requested use. The building principal will submit it to the Facilities Supervisor for information and recording purposes.

Board Policy & Guidelines 200-13 can be found here

APPLICATION can be found here

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

What is the role of a School Resource Officer (SRO)? 

A School Resource Officer is a sworn law enforcement officer trained in emergency preparedness, crisis management, community police concepts and problem solving who are assigned to work as a liaison to Somerset County Public Schools.  All enforcement actions will be taken in accordance with appropriate Federal, State, County and Local laws and involved law enforcement agency policies and procedures.   Additional responsibilities include serving as a mentor and positive role model to students.   School Resource Officers wear the complete uniform, including all issued equipment for patrol deputies while on duty at his/her assignment.  All School Resource Officers have completed the Maryland Model School Resource Officer Training which is a required training approved by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.  Somerset County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers have also completed the Nations Association of School Resource Office (NASRO) Basic Training Course.  Every School Resource Officer strives to work closely and cooperatively with the school’s teachers, guidance counselors and administrators.  School Resource Officers are not used to enforce SCPS polices, rules, regulations and/or procedures but will assist as permissible by law.  Anyone with questions regarding the School Resource Officer’s duties or responsibilities can inquire further at 410-651-9225.

The Somerset County Board of Education is exploring options for the future of the North end Elementary Schools.  Princess Anne Elementary is now over 40 years old and in need of renovation or replacement. Princess Anne Elementary School is an ‘open-space’ school which present safety & security as well as instructional challenges.  Greenwood Elementary School is also over-crowded.

A Feasibility Study for replacement of Greenwood Elementary School will begin 7/01/2024 to determine options. A new school on the existing property at GES would serve Prek3 - 5 grade bands in one facility.

More information will be forthcoming and staff and public planning cooperation will be requested.

Diana Drewer
Administrative Associate

Jon Hill
Facilities Manager