Board approves submission of $6.5 million FY2026 local capital request to county commissioners

The Queen Anne's County Board of Education on Feb. 26 approved sending its fiscal 2026 local capital improvement program request — a $6.5 million package of 35 projects — to the county commissioners for consideration.

The package, presented by Daryl Baricla, supervisor of facilities and design for Queen Anne's County Public Schools, and Josh (supervisor of technology), includes security hardware and fencing, stormwater and paving work, three special‑needs buses, 600 Chromebooks for grades 1–4, server replacements and wireless upgrades, playground replacements, and a community health suite expansion at Bayside Elementary School. The board approved the submission by voice vote after brief discussion and questions about scope and timing.

Baricla told the board the capital program is “100% separate from the operational program” under consideration in the district's budget process, and that the local CIP list is intended to show the district’s full local need so county commissioners can see priorities if available funding falls short. He said the district typically receives about $4 million in local capital funds and that the running total…