Charles County outlines 29‑project capital improvement plan; La Plata HS renovation and kindergarten additions lead list

Charles County Public Schools submitted a 10‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) to the Interagency Committee on School Construction and outlined 29 projects over five years at the Board of Education meeting on Aug. 12.

The district emphasized two projects it hopes the state will fund in the near term: a renovation and capacity addition for La Plata High School and a kindergarten (and pre‑K) addition for Thomas Higdon Elementary School. The La Plata project is in design and would both modernize the 1970s‑era campus and add seats; the district said it hopes to add “somewhere between 300 to 400 additional seats.”

Why it matters: Charles County is experiencing enrollment growth in parts of the district and continues to use relocatable classrooms for immediate capacity needs while seeking state and county construction funding for longer‑term solutions.

Key projects and status - La Plata High School — renovation and addition, design underway; planned capacity increase ~300–400 seats. - Thomas Higdon Elementary — kindergarten/pre‑K addition requested for construction funding; dialogue also continuing on kindergarten additions at Wade and JC Parks and remaining need at Mitchell Elementary. - Relocatable modulars — an 8‑unit modular classroom complex was assembled at Saint Charles High School to address immediate overcrowding; water and electrical connections remain to be completed and the site requires fire protection (sprinklers) per code. - Other prioritized infrastructure work: chillers, boilers, roofs, site infrastructure, and local modernization projects at several campuses.

Funding, schedule and state process Heim said the CIP submission is due to the IAC on Oct. 6, 2025. State construction factors the district noted include the IAC’s published cost figures ($431 per square foot for renovation/addition, $513 per square foot for new construction with site development), and the statutory cost‑share formula: the state’s share for brick‑and‑mortar construction rose to 66% (county share 34%) for the upcoming two‑year cycle.

Heim said the state’s usual allocation process gives a 75% projected allocation in November, a 90% projection in February and final allocations in May. For fiscal planning the district expects roughly $8.9 million as a ten‑year average CIP allocation but highlighted a likely supplemental enrollment growth fund (EGRC) allocation this year that could add several million dollars to construction budgets; Heim said the district anticipates a substantially larger EGRC allocation this cycle after qualifying due to relocatable classroom counts.

Materials, bids and cost risk Board members asked about material and labor price risk. Heim said contractors must include projected escalation in fixed bids for multi‑year projects; local maintenance work has seen some price pressure, and certain electrical and lighting components are sourced overseas and thus remain sensitive to tariff and international supply issues.

Sites and growth planning Heim said a proposed site for the next middle school under the docket agreement is across from Regency Field on Piney Church Road in the Saint Charles area; he cautioned the siting and timing depend on enrollment trends and state approvals. The district reiterated it tracks redistricting and may need boundary adjustments to balance schools as capacity projects are planned and completed.

Next steps The board and staff will continue review of the CIP report, prepare required educational facility master plan and comprehensive maintenance plan for state submission, and monitor IAC allocations in the months ahead. Heim said detailed project descriptions and school histories are included in the full board packet.