Talbot County Schools to Spend About $80,000 on Field Repairs; FY26 operations request would raise upkeep by $46,000

Talbot County Public Schools staff told the Board of Education on Dec. 16 that the district has purchased new grounds equipment and will contract immediate repairs to two athletic fields, then seek a $46,000 increase to operations for field maintenance in FY26.

Kevin Schafer, a district staff member presenting the update, said the district used FY25 operational funds to buy a reel mower, a high-powered tow‑behind blower and a pull‑behind core aerator, for “a total of roughly $65,000–$66,000.” He said the district identified Field 6 at Easton (Edison) High School and Field 5 at the St. Michael’s campus as the two most in‑need sites and will pay a contractor about $14,000 this year to perform work that requires equipment the district did not purchase. “So roughly, in FY25, about $80,000 total. We’re investing in the fields now,” Schafer said.

The presentation said the core aerator and contractor work will address compaction and ‘‘sponginess’’ on a field used for field hockey and spring practices. Schafer said the deep‑tine aerator will reach about 10 inches to relieve compaction, and that work likely will occur after spring sports to avoid disrupting games. He added that the field in question is used mainly for practices in spring and should be “good for the next field hockey season.”

Schafer told the board he expects much of the FY26 increase — roughly $39,000 of the $46,000 figure — would pay for continued contractor improvements, with about $7,000 estimated for additional maintenance costs tied to new equipment (fuel, oil, blades, etc.). He said the $46,000 is an early estimate and could be reduced if post‑improvement assessments show more work can be done in‑house. Schafer also said the district will replace a retiring maintenance worker who currently splits time as a bus driver; the replacement would be a full‑time maintenance employee, which he said may avoid a net headcount increase.

Board members asked technical and timing questions: one asked how deeply the deep‑tine aerator penetrates the soil (Schafer: about 10 inches), another asked how soon the sponginess will be corrected (Schafer: likely over the summer, with work after spring sports), and another asked whether the FY26 estimate represented recurring upkeep or a one‑time restoration cost (Schafer: it’s likely higher this year because of contract work; he expects costs to fall once major improvements are complete and more work can be done in‑house).

The district did not present a formal vote on funding at the meeting; the FY26 figure will be included in the budget materials staff will bring back during the FY26 budget cycle.

Ending: Schafer said he will return with further updates as work proceeds and as staff refine FY26 budget requests. The board did not take formal action on the athletic fields at the Dec. 16 work session.