Why a New Lockerman? 

DENTON – In 2025, huge strides were made on the Lockerman Middle School building project. After extensive planning and multiple community and stakeholder meetings, it was decided that the new north county middle school will be built on the same campus as North Caroline High School in Ridgely. While the timeline is dependent on funding, the school is expected to be open for students in August 2029.

Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Derek Simmons said that “a decent renovation” of Lockerman was done in the 1970s, and done again in the 1990s. Lockerman is also not technically the oldest building in CCPS’s repertoire, that would be the Caroline Career and Technology Center at the Ridgely campus. These facts, combined with the current Lockerman site’s history as an all-Black school dating back to the 1930s, have led some to question ‘Why a new middle school? Why in a new site? And why now?’

Simmons explained that there are multiple factors that made Lockerman the top priority for a new school building, including new educational needs, a growing number of students, additions of services like school-based health centers, and above all, safety. He noted that while several Caroline County school buildings technically meet the state’s criteria for replacement or full renovation of being 40 plus years old, “It’s likely that we can only afford one building at a time, because of the cost share that the county has to bear.”

“Lockerman is a tight space, period,” he said. The school serves roughly 900 students and has at times reached 1,000, yet sits on only 11 acres of land. Recommendations for a school of that size, Simmons said, are closer to 15 to 20 acres. Being in the heart of Denton, the school itself is crammed for space. “Oh, and by the way, Lockerman is not going to lose any kids,” he said, referencing that anticipated growth in the northern part of the county will only increase the student body.

Simmons pointed out that the school’s location and traffic flow constraints pose serious safety concerns, especially during early-morning student drop-off and afternoon pick-up. “From my liability hat, Lockerman would present a real challenge if there were an emergency issue that happened at arrival or dismissal because the streets are clogged up,” he said. “There is not a clear delineated spot for drop-off for parents. There’s not a clear delineated bus parking area, besides on the curbs…they can’t be put into that existing space.”

In safety planning discussions with local law enforcement and emergency services, Simmons said the common concern is that emergencies often happen “at the worst possible time.” When emergencies do arise, “We figure it out,” Simmons said, “but it takes way more coordination at Lockerman, than I think all of our other buildings, because of the traffic flow and design.” He gave the example that if a fire were to occur during the arrival time period, it would be a task to get first responder vehicles in while getting parked buses and parent cars out.

Inside the building, Simmons said, “its current design and structure do not meet the needs of a modern school.” Examples he used were the science labs, which are not all equipped with water or gas pipes to facilitate the current science curriculum. Many of the classrooms are also organized in a “pod” structure, where students have to pass through one classroom to get to another. Simmons said the pods were “really great in the 70s,”, but are no longer recommended. Spaces for physical education are constrained, and as far as the main office and wellness area, “Everybody’s on top of each other,” Simmons said. “We make do,” he said, adding that school staff have had to adapt and retrofit the building as needed. But only so much can be done in the space that Lockerman currently has.

As the Lockerman project moves forward, Simmons said those involved must ensure the new school is built to last, “If we don’t get it right, right now, it’s not like we can tap the culvers for another ten million to make a change…We don’t have that luxury.”

Simmons also addressed the need to honor the history of Lockerman during and after segregation, “We have included the Lockerman Alumni Association in our work since the ed specs committee that was formed,” he said, adding that there is currently a plan to include an homage to Lockerman’s legacy in the new building.

It is still undecided as to whether the Lockerman name will carry over, and what the county will do with the current school. Simmons explained that once a school system no longer needs a building, the structure and land transfer to the hands of the county commissioners. While he is not privy to any plans for the building as of yet, “I think that’s a very valuable discussion to be had, thoughtfully,” Simmons said, “I think there’s a great space and a great opportunity to preserve a history that is really important.”

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Photo taken from an old CR article on the Lockerman project by Connie.