SALISBURY, Md.- It is something many have been pushing for, for a long time in Wicomico County: a new Bennett Middle School.
On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council unanimously introduced legislation to borrow $12.5 million to make the project happen. However, it is not a done deal, as the public still has to weigh in prior to a vote from the council.
In the past, the council has been divided over the idea of building a new Bennett Middle School but it now seems they are more on board. As for the public, the divide is still very much there, especially over the idea of borrowing millions to do it.
"The intersections are extremely crowded when classes change, because of the fact that we have students coming and going," explained Bennett Middle School Principal Liza Hastings.
On top of crowded hallways, Hastings said the facility is not handicapped accessible, is riddled with cracked walls, constantly losing ceiling tiles and scorching hot in the warmer months.
She said she is happy to see the council taking action.
"We have an absolutely amazing staff, amazing group of parents and students here and they deserve it and I think that the council sees that they are our future and they deserve the best."
Council President Joe Holloway said hesitation on the project has mostly been about money.
"It's been a very severe recession," Holloway told WBOC. "Our revenues have been down greatly. That's been a concern. We've also had concerns about the design, we've also had concerns about location and about the need."
The public still seems split on borrowing millions for a new school.
"I think we're in deep enough financial trouble as it is. We don't need to pile another $12 million or so dollars on top of it," explained Salisbury resident Jock McNair. "We should just sit back and wait a little bit and let's recover before we go spending that kind of money. This is politics. This is not the need of the kids. The kids can learn in a school that's just not quite as young as our new high schools is, the Bennett High School."
Yet Vicky Taylor of Hebron, said, "The project has been designed and ready to go for a long time and the children have needed this for a very long time. I know it's an iffy situation economically but I think this would be a boon to the local economy because of all the people that would be involved in the construction."
The council wants to hear what people think before making a decision. A public hearing is set for next month, before they will vote on whether to move forward with the legislation.
