The Board of Education of Cecil County voted April 9 to approve two budget amendments: a capital budget amendment of $247,319 and an operating budget amendment of $438,097.

Chief Financial Officer Denise Sopa recommended the capital amendment after the Interagency Commission on Public School Construction notified the district that the grant for a chiller at the Cecil County School of Technology was federal, not state, funding and that additional funding was available. “I recommended the Board of Education of Cecil County approve the school capital budget amendment for $247,319 as presented,” Sopa said. The motion to approve was made and seconded; the board voted in favor and the motion carried.

Sopa summarized the operating amendment and other restricted revenue changes that prompted the $438,097 adjustment: a CareFirst employee wellness incentive ($33,000), an Aetna wellness incentive ($34,000), a $5,000 donation from APGFCU for the teacher of the year gala, a $10,000 gift from the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 15 to Charlestown Elementary School, and a $250 donation from the Women’s Civic League of Northeast for Elk Neck media books. The district also recorded additional school safety grant funds (about $59,000), including $25,000 toward two-way radios at Elkton Middle and $200,000 toward camera upgrades in all middle schools except the new Northeast Middle building. Federal restricted revenue was noted for the JROTC program at Elkton High (a federal contribution toward a teaching position).

Sopa said some previously listed state grant dollars were reclassified as federal funds for the chiller project; the amendment raised the district’s FY25 capital budget to $36,656,163. After a motion and second, the board approved the operating amendment; a roll-call was not read into the record at the public microphone but board members indicated approval and the motion carried unanimously.

Board members asked clarifying questions about revenue sources and how one-time settlement funds would be used; Sopa confirmed the JUUL (vaping) settlement funds will be used to augment vape-detection systems in high schools. The board’s vote on both amendments concluded the finance items on the April agenda.