The Dorchester County Board of Education voted unanimously on Thursday to approve its 2027 Capital Improvement Plan, a nearly $27 million package aimed at modernizing facilities, replacing outdated systems, and planning for future school construction. The state of Maryland is expected to cover almost all costs.
Improvements to the Mace’s Lane school make up the majority of the 2027 CIP.
The largest project involves the roof and HVAC renovation at Mace’s Lane Middle School. This $21.3 million investment will replace the school’s original roof and mechanical systems from 2003. It will provide new energy recovery and dehumidification units, upgrade lighting, and replace ceilings. Much of the roofing design work was completed earlier this year, with replacement already underway during the summer.
The second large project is a $5.7 million HVAC replacement at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, replacing leaky chilled water piping, insulation, and aging chiller units. Officials noted the current system, dating back to the 1970s, has become increasingly costly to maintain and poses health and safety risks if left unaddressed.
The approved CIP also approved funding for feasibility studies and educational specifications for a new elementary school project. Five “open plan” elementary schools built in the 1970s are under review, and the district plans to select one for modernization or replacement. The project would move into the planning phase in 2028, with community engagement guiding the final decision.
The Plan also documents completed or nearly finished upgrades at other schools, including: new HVAC and fire safety systems at South Dorchester PreK-8, security vestibules at Choptank, Maple, and Sandy Hill elementary schools, and initial roof replacement at Mace’s Lane Middle.
The Plan marks a substantial step toward tackling the most pressing infrastructure concerns across Dorchester County Public Schools. Aging HVAC systems, deteriorating roofs, and outdated “open plan” elementary schools have long been cited as barriers to providing safe and modern learning environments.
The improvements don’t resolve every challenge in the system’s aging building stock, but represent meaningful progress toward a safer, healthier, and more efficient learning experience through better air quality. They promise to reduce maintenance costs and extend the useful life of the aging facilities as the funded studies explore possibilities for new elementary schools, while exploring
At the same time, the feasibility studies will chart a path toward replacing outdated elementary schools. Together, these steps bring the district significantly closer to aligning its infrastructure with the educational goals of the community.
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