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The school has changed principals, students' test results have soared from near failing, and Lincoln has become an example of success and perseverance.

But nothing has improved for the two buildings that make up the 88-year-old school.

Broken heating units are so prevalent that students have to wear their coats some days during class to stay warm, teachers say. The school has no sprinklers, no individual classrooms with doors or walls to block noise, and teachers have to lug their materials on carts between the two buildings to teach classes.

"I was actually looking forward to moving into a trailer. Can you believe that?" Kowalsky told the Frederick Board of County Commissioners Tuesday during its hearing on the proposed six-year construction budget.

Lincoln parents, community members and teachers dominated the hearing, which helps commissioners prioritize construction projects. Lincoln advocates listed the problems that plague the outdated buildings.

Lincoln Elementary is one of the oldest schools in Frederick County. The school has two buildings — the historic Lincoln B, which dates back to 1922, and Lincoln A, which was built in 1974.

The school has not been renovated since, and parents, teachers and community members have lobbied for years to modernize the school.

Lincoln Elementary was originally slated for a $24 million renovation to take place in two years, but due to funding problems, the project has been pushed back to 2014.

Parents tried to persuade commissioners to renovate the school sooner rather than later.

They talked about leaky roofs, moldy walls, and the lack of power outlets in classrooms leading to the constant need to use extension cables, even though it is a violation of fire code regulations. The school has no elevators, no smoke detectors and is not accessible for students with disabilities.

Frustrated Lincoln supporters and parents said they are ashamed and embarrassed to see the historic school in such bad shape, especially after years of advocacy and support.

"We have been here three times," Principal Ann Reever told commissioners. "We will be back as many times as it takes. If you get tired of seeing us, just fund our school. We just want the kind of school that most Frederick County residents take for granted."

Renovating Lincoln sooner is more difficult than it sounds, commissioners said.

"We know that Lincoln is in great need of renovation," said Commissioners' President Jan H. Gardner (D). "But it's really not that we've made a choice to delay it."

The current six-year construction budget, which was approved last year at this time, included 150 projects for a total of $633 million. Commissioners just last month cut that to 107 projects and $324 million.

Commissioners said they had to take out cash from the construction budget to help close the deficit in the $427 million fiscal 2011 operating budget, which stands at $24.6 million.

And due to a decline in revenues, the amount of debt the county could take out has also shrunk.

Other school projects that are proposed for delays include the addition to Oakdale Elementary in New Market, which has been pushed back from fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2012 and the modification of North Frederick Elementary, which has been moved from 2013 to 2015.

Betsy Little, the principal of Oakdale Elementary, reminded commissioners that delaying these projects may have serious repercussions.

The Oakdale addition for example, was meant to relieve overcrowding at Centerville Elementary in Urbana, as part of the Oakdale High School boundary change project.

If the addition is delayed, Centerville Elementary will remain packed for one additional year, Little said.

E-mail Margarita Raycheva at mraycheva@gazette.net.