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Cecil County schools seek county support for $185 million Northeast Middle-High School project and planning funds for Thompson replacement
Summary
The district said the Northeast Middle-High School replacement is now estimated at $185 million and asked the county for an additional ~$20.5 million this year (on top of prior agreements) and $1 million to begin planning the Thompson Estates Elementary replacement; presenters warned county front-funding spreads state payments over years.
District capital staff presented a two-part capital request at the Jan. 28 budget work session: a revised estimated cost of $185 million for the Northeast Middle-High School replacement and planning funds for the next major project, Thompson Estates Elementary.
Dr. Buckley said the $185 million figure reflects finishing 12 classrooms originally shelled out and required roadway work along Irishtown Road. The district has previously received $128 million; the state is scheduled to provide annual payments and the county front-funded the state's share, creating a repayment schedule through about 2031. Dr. Buckley said the district will ask the county for roughly $20.5 million this year (above amounts already in the county agreement) in order to complete the project financing plan and to request $1 million to begin design and planning work for Thompson Estates replacement.
A board member framed county front-funding as effectively an interest-free loan from the county to the state and asked whether that shifts long-term county burden. Dr. Lawson and staff said the arrangement secured timely construction and noted that county government makes the principal and interest payments on capital projects on the district's behalf; the district records that debt service in its operating data.
Separately, the capital request included a list of small-cap priorities: energy grant-funded replacements at the School of Technology, a Rising Sun parking-lot redesign ($980,000), boiler replacement phase 2 at the ASC ($375,000), a full fire-alarm upgrade at Perryville High ($400,000), and multiple paving and mechanical replacements across the system. The planners said parts shortages and aging systems are driving some replacements sooner than anticipated.
Public commenter Sean Brim spoke in favor of the Northeast project, calling the current building (1932) "far overdue" and urging continued investment in public-school infrastructure.
