Queen Anne's County Board approves FY2026 local capital-improvement request for county review

The Queen Anne's County Board of Education voted Feb. 26 to approve submission of the fiscal year 2026 local project capital improvement program (CIP) request to the Queen Anne's County commissioners. The request lists 35 potential projects with a combined local ask of about $6,500,000 and was advanced to the commissioners for their consideration by a voice vote of the board.

The vote followed a detailed presentation by Daryl Baricla, supervisor of facilities and design for Queen Anne's County Public Schools, who outlined project priorities and the process used to develop the list. "My name is Daryl Baricla. I'm the supervisor of facilities and, design for Queen Anne's County Public Schools," Baricla said as he opened the CIP overview. He told the board the list is separate from the operating budget and explained that projects are drawn from a comprehensive maintenance plan, maintenance work-orders, school roundtables and enrollment projections.

The CIP request groups projects by priority and funding eligibility. Baricla said five projects already submitted for state participation remain in the state's review process; the 35 projects presented to the board are local-only capital items. "We have 35 projects that we've listed as potential projects in the CIP," he said, and he provided estimated costs and a running total so the board and the commissioners could see how far typical county capital support would progress.

Why it matters: The local CIP funds non-state-eligible projects such as security hardware, perimeter fencing, playground replacements and routine maintenance that the school district says are needed to keep buildings and grounds safe and functional. Baricla told the board the county historically provides roughly $4,000,000 for these local projects, and the $6.5 million request is intended to show the full scope of local needs if additional funds are available.

Top priorities and notable items - Security hardware: The board included a $500,000 request (part 1) to survey and begin systemwide upgrades so classroom doors can be locked from the inside and keyed on a grand-master system. Baricla said the district will hire an architectural firm to survey schools and establish phased implementation. - Perimeter fencing: Funding was requested for fences at Bayside, Kent Island Elementary and Graysonville elementary schools to address concerns about people entering school grounds where current split-rail fencing provides little delineation. - Kennard Elementary stormwater: Construction funds were requested to address stormwater and failing inlet issues around the teaching parking lot. - Kent Island High School stadium lighting: The funding item reflects a previously approved contract and was described as contingent on FY2026 local funding to proceed with the project. - Buses: A line item requests three county-owned special-needs buses; district staff said the bus replacement plan staggers purchases to avoid large one-year spikes in cost. - Technology: The district requested 600 Chromebooks for grades 1–4 (staff estimated about $450 per unit including case and warranty), replacement of school servers with a move from VMware to Microsoft Hyper‑V, and replacement of school wireless equipment. District technology staff said Hyper‑V reduces licensing costs but requires different management and daily updates. For wireless replacement the district said it will seek E‑rate support; the presentation listed the district's portion at 40% with E‑rate covering about 60% if the federal program approves funding. - School-based health and community health suite: The CIP includes final funding for a community health suite at Bayside Elementary in partnership with Choptank Community Health (the district said it has an MOU with the provider). Board discussion clarified the centers serve students and school staff under parent permission and that the district provides in-kind space and utilities while the health provider performs billing and clinical services. - Maintenance and facility items: The request includes recurring and preventive items such as camera and access-control maintenance ($50,000 per year line item), milling and paving phases for Kent Island High School, interior painting, replacement of aging fire doors and door hardware, terrazzo refinishing at Centerville Elementary, playground replacements using a design-charrette procurement approach, and other life-cycle replacements.

Budget context and next steps Baricla told the board the county has typically provided just under $4,000,000 for local capital projects in recent normal years but that the district wanted to present the full $6.5 million list to show total local needs and let the commissioners decide funding. He also noted large upcoming asks tied to a long-term project for Centerville Middle School: staff said initial construction funding could require about $10 million from the state and $10 million from the county in the first year if a full rebuild is pursued.

Board action and procedural notes A board member moved to approve the FY2026 local project CIP request for submission to the county commissioners; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board also approved the meeting agenda earlier in the session.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve FY2026 local project capital improvement program request for submission to the Queen Anne's County commissioners — Mover: board member (mover); Second: board member (second). Vote: approved by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

What was not decided The board approved forwarding the district's request to the county commissioners for consideration; it did not bind the commissioners to fund any particular amount. Several projects on the list had not yet been bid or fully designed, and staff said additional board approvals will be sought as individual projects reach bid or contract stages.

The board is scheduled to consider the final operating and capital budget items after the county commissioners respond; staff said the full budget book and supporting line-item pages will be provided to the board as the district prepares the document for formal adoption in June.