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Cecil County board approves insurance contract, CIP revision, compressor replacement and $1.114 million budget amendment
Summary
The board approved a three‑year Hartford life/AD&D/voluntary life contract at $128,284 annually, revised the FY27 CIP reducing the local Thompson Elementary planning ask from $2M to $1M (seeking $845,000 from the state), awarded a $50,223.38 compressor contract for Cherry Hill Middle School, and approved a $1,114,145 operating budget amendment and related staffing updates.
The Cecil County Board of Education on Dec. 10 approved multiple fiscal and capital measures: continuing Hartford as the district’s life and voluntary life insurer under a three‑year contract, a revision to the FY27 capital improvement plan, an emergency compressor replacement at Cherry Hill Middle School and an operating budget amendment reflecting additional restricted and federal revenues.
Superintendent Doctor Lawson recommended keeping Hartford as the district’s basic life, AD&D and voluntary life insurance provider with a three‑year contract beginning Sept. 1, 2026, at an annual cost of $128,284; the board voted to approve the recommendation (SEG 1244–1248, SEG 1272–1277).
On capital planning, Doctor Buckley explained that a state rule change allows state funds to be applied to local planning and development; the district revised its FY27 request for Thompson Estates/Thompson Elementary planning, reducing the local ask from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000 and requesting $845,000 from the State, a net reduction that staff said will still meet planning needs (SEG 1299–1314). The board approved the revised CIP for submission to the Maryland Public School Construction Program (SEG 1345–1361).
Facilities staff described an unplanned compressor failure at Cherry Hill Middle School; because the replacement cost exceeded $50,000, board authorization was required. The board approved a contract with Johnson Controls Incorporated for $50,223.38 to replace the compressor (SEG 1366–1373, SEG 1391–1402).
Finance staff and Miss Sopa reviewed staffing additions described as above‑budget hires for FY26: 34 positions (14 classroom teachers, seven special‑education teachers, one school counselor and 12 special‑education paraprofessionals) with estimated salaries and fixed charges of about $2.7 million for FY26. Staff said those hires were funded from unassigned fund balance and that the FY27 budget request must consider whether to include them going forward (SEG 1449–1464, SEG 1510–1516).
The board approved an operating budget amendment totaling $1,114,145 that reflected additional restricted state and federal revenues (including restored Title III funding and increases for non‑public placements), use of assigned fund balance for small capital projects and other adjustments; staff noted a $159,000 fund‑balance allocation for paving projects and $356,000 in non‑public placement funding among the changes (SEG 1619–1662, SEG 1720–1724). The motion to approve the budget amendment carried.
All motions were moved, seconded and approved during the meeting. Where dollar figures were presented in the meeting they are reported here as stated by district staff.
