Board approves funding option for Chopticon High School renovation, contingent on county and state approvals

The Saint Mary's County Board of Education voted May 6 to approve funding option 2 for the Chopticon High School multisystemic renovation project, contingent on final approvals from county and state authorities. The motion, moved by a board member and seconded by another, passed by voice vote after a presentation from district facilities staff and discussion about funding shortfalls.

Superintendent Dr. Smith and district project staff described the project as a multi-phase, occupied renovation focused on roof and HVAC replacement as the base bid, with 11–12 alternates that include restroom and locker-room renovations, terracotta piping replacement, asbestos abatement, terrazzo in two lobbies and other items needed to bring older sections of the building up to current standards. Presenters said roughly 52% of the building is older than 58 years and emphasized the project’s shelter-school role during emergencies.

District staff reported total project funding of a little more than $60.7 million, citing approximately $33.06 million in state allocations and about $27.69 million in local funding. Because the district used $1.4 million of Built to Learn (BTL) allocation for another project (Piney Point), staff said the Chopticon project had a reduced funding envelope and remains short approximately $3.07 million on the local side for option 2. Option 2 also carries a notably small contingency of 3.85% (about $2.3 million), which presenters said increases risk if unforeseen conditions—such as hidden structural or terracotta piping damage—are uncovered during phased, occupied work.

To address the shortfall, staff proposed reallocating portions of newly awarded state construction funding: using about $2.3 million from Esperanza Middle School’s recently funded allocation and roughly $1.295 million for a Leonardtown High School chiller, leaving Esperanza with about $1.99 million toward its own project. Staff said the reallocation would require multiple approvals, including a county bond-resolution action, programmatic adjustments in the FY27 budget, and a maximum state allocation change. The district team said it would request the state’s Real Property/Interagency Commission (IAC) to approve a maximum allocation change and would ask the county commissioners to amend bond and budget items; those approvals were described as prerequisites to bringing a contract award back to the board.

Board members asked detailed, logistical questions about asbestos abatement, price-hold windows on bids (90-day price-hold period), contingency levels, and which alternates would be deferred under option 2. One board member asked how asbestos removal would be conducted; project staff said licensed abatement contractors would isolate and remove material with containment and HEPA filtration during unoccupied periods when possible. Another member asked whether windows and doors were included in the current scope; staff said many original windows remain from the building’s initial construction and that some doors/windows were replaced in 2020 due to security concerns, but most replacements would require future funding.

Superintendent Dr. Smith urged the board and community to prioritize roof and HVAC work across the system, saying delays amplify future costs and can result in mold and other damage that are more expensive to remediate. Staff also highlighted a federal grant option (for schools with more than 15% military-connected students) being pursued for Esperanza’s HVAC; that grant would not require a local match, but results would not be known until the fall.

The board’s approving motion directed staff to proceed with funding option 2—focused on the base bid and selected alternates—contingent upon the county commissioners’ and state approvals necessary to reallocate and realign funds. The presenters said, if county and state actions proceed on the timeline discussed, the district expects to present a contract award at its next meeting.

The board plans to reconvene in regular session May 20, 2026, with an executive session at 5 p.m. and the open meeting at 6 p.m.