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Board approves $717,893 Chapel District Elementary playground replacement

Talbot County Board of Education · November 20, 2025
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Summary

The board authorized a contract using Omnia Partners for a full playground replacement at Chapel District Elementary. Funding combines a Public School Construction Program grant (~$312,000), district funds (~$305,000) and $100,000 in community donations.

The Talbot County Board of Education voted Nov. 19 to approve a contract to replace the playground at Chapel District Elementary as part of a renovation and addition project.

Facilities staff said the total project funding is $717,893, drawn from an Aging School Program grant through the Public School Construction Program (about $312,000), Talbot County Public Schools funds (about $305,000) and pledges from the school PTO and the Grandparents Club totaling $100,000. Staff proposed using an Omnia Partners intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement to procure equipment (GameTime) and installation (Cunningham Recreation) to avoid a separate formal bid process.

Board members asked about safety and accessibility. The facilities presenter said the playground equipment and surface meet accessibility requirements and that the equipment is expected to have about a 20-year lifespan; the poured-in-place safety surface should last the lifetime of the play equipment. The design includes fencing; school facilities will allow public access outside occupied school hours.

A motion to approve the contract and the projected cost was made and approved by voice vote. The facilities office will finalize the contract, confirm accessible equipment and schedule installation; the board requested confirmation of accessible features and post-installation documentation.

Next steps: Facilities to execute the Omnia/GameTime contract, coordinate the installation schedule, and provide the board with accessibility verification and a completion timeline.