LEONARDTOWN, Md. — On June 4, 2025, the St. Mary’s County Board of Education met for its regular meeting to discuss a variety of subjects, including graduation ceremonies, sports team successes, and construction and maintenance projects.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Dr. J. Scott Smith shared highlights from the close of the school year. High school graduations across the county were successfully held and live-streamed, with substantial online viewership: Chopticon High School at 5,500 views, Leonardtown High School at over 8,000 and Great Mills High School at approximately 8,000. Due to a forecast of heavy rain, Leonardtown’s graduation was moved indoors midweek following a student-led petition.
Indoor seating for the Leonardtown ceremony was arranged with HD video feeds in both the LHS auditorium and the LMS gymnasium, each accommodating over 600 guests. The board plans to explore alternative venues, including the Prince George’s Equestrian Center and St. Mary’s College, to better accommodate large crowds in the future.
In athletics, both Chopticon and Leonardtown High School girls’ softball teams won state championships in the 3A and 4A divisions, respectively, with Leonardtown repeating their championship win. This is the first time Chopticon has held the state championship title since 1985, the same year “Careless Whisper” was the hottest song and the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl.
Multiple students across all three high schools also won gold medals at the state level in track and field.
Teacher and staff recognition included Tylita Butler from Esperanza Middle School, who was honored in Annapolis as a finalist for Teacher of the Year. The system’s length-of-service ceremony recognized over 1,500 combined years of service. Notably, Terry Fenwick from the Department of Operations was recognized for 50 years of service, having started in 1974. Retirees collectively represented 1,436 years of service.
Capital & Facilities
Three construction and maintenance projects were approved:
Playground Replacement at Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School
- Vendor: Playground Specialist Inc. (via HGAC contract PR11-20)
- Contract: $147,859.10
- Contingency: $15,000
This project will replace the outdated playground for ages 2–5, ensuring separate structures for age groups 2–5 and 5–12, consistent with other campuses. The playground is shared with adjacent Fifth District Park.
Chiller & Cooling Tower Replacement at Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center
- Vendor: W.L. Gary Company
- Contract: $1,138,000
- Contingency: $60,000
The aging chillers use a phased-out refrigerant and have exceeded the expected 15–20-year lifespan for air-cooled units. The replacement is funded through the Local Capital Improvement Program.
Chiller Replacement at Margaret Brent Middle School
- Vendor: Gaghan Mechanical
- Contract: $854,484
- Contingency: $50,000
Gaghan Mechanical, which has recently completed three chiller projects for the district, submitted the lowest bid. The company was pre-qualified through the same process and on the same day as the Forrest Center project.
All replacements will be “in-kind,” removing old units and installing new ones with component warranties ranging from two to five years.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, 2025, with executive session at 5 p.m. and the open session beginning at 6 p.m.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
