DEAL ISLAND, Md. - Princess Anne Elementary is old, so school leaders in Somerset County are trying to figure out how to update the 40-year-old building. They have two plans on the table right now, but some people on Deal Island say they don't want to see their school close.

There was a community meeting Wednesday night on Deal Island, packed with people who wanted to know what school leaders have in mind.

Somerset County Schools launched a survey in November, explaining two ideas and asking for input. The first ideais to update and expand Princess Anne Elementary. Second grade would then be moved to Princess Anne from Greenwood Elementary, to help address overcrowding at Greenwood.

The second idea entails buildinga new elementary that would be centrally located to serve all of the students at Princess Anne, Greenwood and Deal Island.

Some who attended the meeting on Deal Island say they're skeptical how much money the second option would save.

"I think that they're looking at the money, 100% funding you know from the state but they only save $150,000 in maintenance," Craig Webster of Deal Island says. "But the extra busing is going to cost a lot of that."

Others worry about the distance families would have to travel.

"Well the thing is, they may have to drive 15 or 19 miles to get to the school in Princess Anne and suppose a child gets sick? And they say you know come pick them up?," Bart Vanness of Deal Island says.

Vanness attended the meeting as well and he says class size was also a topic of concern.

"You're going to have a larger population to teach with," Vanness says. "Now here, you may have smaller groups. And this is important."

The district is still looking for community input. They will be holding two more meetings for the public to attend. The second meeting is on Feb. 19 atGreenwood Elementary at 5 p.m. The third and last community meeting will be on Feb. 27th at Princess Anne Elementary at 5 p.m. The project to update Princess Anne Elementary is still in its early stages. More details about the district's timeline and ideas can be found here.

Read more here:

Deal Island Families Weigh In On the County's Next Renovation Project - WBOC TV 16