The Talbot County Board of Education on Oct. 15 approved two school-construction contracts, adopted updates to several district policies and approved a personnel report that board members said was presented and voted on in closed session.

The board voted to accept a Maryland Center for School Safety FY26 grant contract to add security window glazing to Chapel District Elementary School and to award a $1,107,420.93 contract to Barbizon (via a TIPS participatory contract) to replace lighting and rigging systems in the Easton High School auditorium. The board also advanced a package of policy updates in second reader and approved other items on the consent agenda. Board members approved the personnel report in closed session under Maryland Open Meetings Act provisions and then voted to ratify the report in open session.

Why it matters: The construction contracts fund physical security upgrades and a major auditorium infrastructure replacement, representing both immediate school-safety work and capital spending on district facilities. Policy updates affect how the district manages staff and student technology use, personnel conduct and other administrative practices, potentially shaping operations across the district.

Most significant actions

- Chapel District Elementary window glazing (FY26 Maryland Center for School Safety grant): Board approved use of grant funds to install security window film/glazing across exterior windows at Chapel District Elementary. The project will use National Glazing Solutions (NGS) under a TIPS contract. The board moved and seconded the motion and voted in favor. No board member recorded opposition.

- Easton High School auditorium lighting and rigging replacement: Board approved a contract with Barbizon (via TIPS) for a total project amount of $1,107,420.93. The administration said the installation window targets summer but that preparatory spring work may be required; staff said scheduled plays and school events would not be affected. Motion passed; no recorded opposition at the vote.

- Policy actions: The board advanced or adopted multiple policy updates in second reader, including policy 5.8 (staff use of electronic devices), policy 10.32 (acceptable use of technology and Internet safety for students), policy 7.1 (personnel policies and goals) and policy 7.2 (employee code of conduct). Policy 10.32 passed with one board member recording opposition; other policy votes passed.

- Consent agenda and personnel report: The board approved a consent agenda of routine items (listed in the meeting materials) and ratified the personnel report that had been discussed in closed session under Maryland open-meetings provisions. Board members said the personnel actions were presented in closed session per cited Open Meetings Act sections.

Process and next steps: Administrators said work on the approved contracts will be scheduled to avoid impact on school events, with some preparatory work anticipated before summer installation. Policy items in first reader (where noted) will return for further consideration; second-reader items were adopted and will be implemented per district process.

What the board cited in making procedural moves: At the start of the meeting the board moved into closed session citing the Maryland Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article §§3-305(b)(1), (7) and (8) and §3-103 for personnel, legal advice and pending/potential litigation matters. After closed session the board resumed its public meeting and completed the actions above.

Votes at a glance (motions, outcomes)

- Motion to move into closed session (cited Md. Open Meetings Act §§3-305(b)(1), (7), (8) and §3-103): passed (unanimous). Motion language listed personnel matters, pending litigation including social-media litigation against platforms, an OCR complaint related to special education and other student cases; the board moved, seconded and voted in favor.

- Motion to amend agenda to move student board-member presentations prior to the superintendent’s report: passed (unanimous).

- Motion to approve minutes of Sept. 17, 2025: passed (unanimous).

- Motion to approve Chapel District Elementary School window glazing contract (FY26 Maryland Center for School Safety grant; vendor: National Glazing Solutions under TIPS): passed (unanimous).

- Motion to approve Easton High School auditorium lighting and rigging replacement for $1,107,420.93 (vendor: Barbizon via TIPS): passed (unanimous).

- Motion to approve policy 5.8 (staff use of electronic devices) — second reader: passed (unanimous).

- Motion to approve policy 10.32 (acceptable use of technology and Internet safety for students) — second reader: passed (majority; one board member opposed).

- Motions to approve policy 7.1 (personnel policies and goals) and policy 7.2 (employee code of conduct) — second reader: both passed (unanimous).

- Motion to approve consent agenda (four items listed on the meeting agenda): passed (unanimous).

- Motion to approve the personnel report as presented in closed session: passed (unanimous).

How the board framed votes: Board members repeatedly emphasized limiting public discussion on routine items via a consent agenda to preserve meeting time for higher-priority matters; they also asked staff to return with more fulsome drafts where policies need additional work.

Sources: meeting materials and in-meeting motions and roll-call voice votes recorded at the Oct. 15 Talbot County Board of Education public session.