The Board of Education unanimously approved renaming Salem Avenue Elementary School as Thomas J. Garner Elementary School in honor of the school’s late principal.

Mr. Garner served the Salem Avenue school community for more than 20 years and was widely recognized for his commitment to students, families, staff, and the surrounding community. A petition requesting the name change was circulated during the 2025–2026 school year and received significant support from members of the school community.

The proposal was presented to the Board earlier this summer and made available for public comment in accordance with Board policy. During the July 21 meeting, Board members voted 6–0 to approve the new name.

The school will begin making visible changes to take on the Thomas J. Garner Elementary School name. WCPS is in progress with making updates to signs, communications, and other school materials.

WCPS presented a new safety plan to make security procedures more consistent at school athletic events across the county.

The plan uses a tiered approach to determine the level of security staffing and other precautions needed for an event. Factors may include the type of event, expected attendance, rivalry contests, and any identified safety concerns. Higher-attendance or higher-risk events may receive additional school security personnel, administrators, law enforcement support, or other safety resources.

Additional measures include a no-bag policy at designated athletic events and a formal credentialing process for members of the news media. These steps are intended to improve entry procedures, help staff identify authorized individuals, and reduce the number of items that must be screened or monitored inside athletic facilities.

WCPS developed the plan to provide clearer and more consistent procedures across schools while maintaining a welcoming environment for students, families, staff, and community members. Families and spectators will receive information about event-specific expectations before the measures take effect.

The Board of Education approved the schematic design for the planned addition at Jonathan Hager Elementary School, allowing the project to move forward to the next phase of design and state review.

The proposed two-story addition includes nearly 32,000 square feet of new space and is designed to add classrooms and student-support areas while improving how students and staff move throughout the building. The project will expand Jonathan Hager from housing three classrooms per grade to housing five classrooms per grade, increasing capacity by almost 400 students.

The design was developed based on educational specifications approved by the Board in June. Those specifications outline the instructional, operational, safety, and support spaces needed for the expanded school. Project planners have also worked to keep grade levels grouped together and limit disruptions to students while construction is underway.

The total construction budget is $22.5 million. The addition is planned to open in August 2028, pending state approval, funding, final design, and construction.

Approved the second and final reading of Policy JHCF – Epinephrine and Bronchodilator Availability and Use Requirements, which allows school staff to administer the nasal version of epinephrine (“Neffy”) in an emergency when a student is experiencing anaphylaxis.
Approved the second and final reading of Administrative Regulation BBFE-R – Washington County Board of Education Ethics Regulations. The changes include but are not limited to: clarifying certain definitions, specifying timelines for responding to events, and aligning the regulation with state requirements.
Approved advertising rights for the Smithsburg High School Athletic Boosters Club. Businesses have been identified to advertise in the school’s gymnasium, stadium, and tennis courts.
Approved the donation of a wrestling mat valued at $10,000 from the Clear Spring Youth Wrestling Association to Clear Spring High School to support the start of a new wrestling program for the 2026-2027 school year.
Approved a donation of over $15,000 from Boonsboro Athletic Boosters, Inc. to Boonsboro High School to support the softball, baseball, and lacrosse programs, as well as the Spring and Senior Athletic Banquets.