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Calvert County accepts $95,000 donation to modernize Arthur Stohr Planetarium; board approves $94,074 purchase
Summary
A $95,000 gift from retired planetarian Jack Bell will fund a Lambda 2 projection system from Digitalis Education Solutions to modernize the Arthur Stohr Planetarium; the board approved use of the donation and the purchase 5‑0.
The Calvert County Board of Education approved using a $95,000 donation from retired planetarian Jack Bell to purchase a Lambda 2 projection system for the Arthur Stohr Planetarium, a project district staff and the donor said will modernize the facility and expand STEM learning.
"My wife was a lifelong educator," Bell said, describing the gift as a way to continue his wife's teaching legacy. Bell said he selected hardware and software from Digitalis Education Solutions to bring the planetarium to 21st‑century technology and enable immersive 360‑degree programming.
Crystal Ricks, supervisor of gifted and advanced learning, presented the recommendation and said the Digitalis system will support grade‑level, standards‑aligned planetarium lessons and hands‑on follow‑up activities. Ricks said the district plans to reopen the planetarium in the spring, noting that several ordered items were on back order and that additional funding needs remain but were "not specified" at the meeting.
Staff recommended purchasing the Lambda 2 projection system from Digitalis Education Solutions for $94,074; the board voted 5‑0 to approve using Bell's donation for that purchase. Board members thanked Bell and characterized the gift as a lasting tribute to his late wife and an investment in district STEM offerings.
Ricks and Bell said the Arthur Stohr Planetarium had not been used regularly in recent years and that equipment in the facility was outdated. The donation and purchase, district staff said, will enable curriculum‑aligned programming for students and public evening/weekend shows for families once the installation and other updates are complete.
Board members asked whether district funds beyond Bell's gift would be required for safety‑proofing, seating, or other physical improvements; Ricks said there is additional need and she would follow up with the director of instruction to provide cost estimates and a plan for any further work.
The board motion carried 5‑0. The approval authorized staff to use the donor gift to purchase the Digitalis system; staff did not request additional capital funding at the meeting.
