Wicomico board ratifies three labor contracts, approves consent items and Beaver Run construction documents; Unit 2 vote 6-1

The Wicomico County Board of Education at its April meeting approved multiple routine and major items, including ratification of three negotiated labor contracts, the approval of consent items including the purchase of a school bus for $98,000, and authorization to submit combined design development and construction documents for the Beaver Run addition to the state for review.

The actions package included: approval of consent items 5.1–5.4 (certificated personnel matters, a school vehicle contract award, several board policies and a bus purchase for $98,000); ratification of the Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3/4 agreements as negotiated; and approval of the Beaver Run design development/construction documents and authorization to seek state approval and an authorization to bid.

Why it matters: The contract ratifications affect the school system’s workforce and budgeting for the coming year; the bus purchase adjusts transportation capacity; and approval of the Beaver Run design package moves a local construction project toward bidding and potential summer mobilization.

Key vote totals and motions - Consent items 5.1–5.4 (including $98,000 school bus): approved by roll call; chair and all board members voted aye. (Transcript roll call: “Chair votes aye. It's approved.”)

- Ratify Unit 1 agreement as negotiated: approved by roll call (unanimous ayes). The motion to “ratify the unit 1 agreement as negotiated” was moved and seconded and passed by roll call.

- Ratify Unit 2 agreement as negotiated: passed 6–1. During the roll call, Mister Palmer voted “Nay,” and the remaining members voted “Aye.”

- Ratify Unit 3/4 agreement as negotiated: approved by roll call (7–0).

- Approve Beaver Run design development and construction documents and authorize submission to the state (locally funded project) and request authorization to bid: approved 7–0. School system staff said the combined DD/CD submission was recommended by the School Building Commission and that the district requested an authorization to bid by April 14 to support a June 2025 mobilization if trade contracts are within budget.

Procedural notes and context - The consent packet was presented as having been reviewed in advance in a work session. The bus purchase was described as costing $98,000 and being covered in the relevant budget.

- The Beaver Run DD/CD submission was described by staff as a locally funded project that MSDE and the Department of General Services asked to be combined for a smaller project; MSDE will review the submission and the district requested a state authorization to bid to support a June 2025 construction mobilization if trade contracts are within budget.

Votes at a glance (roll-call names as recorded in the meeting) - Mister Palmer: recorded aye on most motions but cast the lone “Nay” on the Unit 2 ratification. - Miss Hazel: aye on recorded roll calls. - Mister Platts (Plott/Platts as recorded): aye on recorded roll calls. - Missus Beacham (as recorded): aye on recorded roll calls. - Mister Brown: aye on recorded roll calls. - Doctor Ennis: aye on recorded roll calls. - Chair (Malone): aye on recorded roll calls.

Supporting documents and next steps - The Beaver Run DD/CD will be reviewed by MSDE staff; the district sought an authorization to bid by April 14 to support a June 2025 mobilization if trade bids allow a viable guaranteed maximum price.

Notes on sourcing: All motions, roll-call tallies and the $98,000 bus purchase were recorded in the board’s April meeting transcript.