The Carroll County Commissioners and county school board members agreed yesterday to continue studying how to build schools quicker without sacrificing quality -- including allowing developers to build them.
"I'm concerned about trying to catch up," Commissioner Donald I. Dell said.
School officials have said they need to build two schools next year and four the year after to keep pace with the growing population. They are examining whether private companies could build schools instead of the county.
"We're interested in building them as fast as we can, too," but also maintaining quality, School Superintendent Brian Lockard said.
The two boards held their quarterly meeting yesterday at the County Office Building.
Commissioner Richard T. Yates said if a developer wanted to build a school for the county, he would be willing to give the developer increased density on his land.
County Budget Director Steven D. Powell said two "consortiums" are interested in building schools in Carroll. They want to review plans and bring a proposal to commissioners and school board members, he said.
A private company probably could build a school cheaper than the county could, he said.
Vernon Smith, director of school support services, said privately built schools could be cost-effective. But there is "the potential for compromise on building quality," he said.
The county builds schools that are used for 40 years to 50 years and is even using some built in the 1930s, he said.
Mr. Smith said he is working on a prototype design for the next three elementary schools scheduled to be built to try to save money on design and construction costs. The next three schools are planned for Westminster, Southeast Carroll and Manchester.
He said he may use Friendship Valley, Spring Garden or Runnymede elementary schools as a model.
The two boards also discussed a new headquarters building for the Board of Education.
"We seem to be in limbo," Board member C. Scott Stone said.
The commissioners have discussed the issue for at least a year. Mr. Dell said he believes the former Telemecanique Inc. building on Bethel Road in Reese is "a perfect fit" and said the commissioners still are considering it.
The board also discussed continuing a performance audit that was begun last year.
School Board President Ann M. Ballard suggested that six departments be audited beginning in October -- maintenance, operations, purchasing and accounting, property management, fiscal services and information services.