Lt. Governor Burbank Celebrates Start of $31.8 Million Renovation Project at St. Michaels School Complex in Talbot County
ST. MICHAELS, Md. (August 7, 2030) – Underscoring the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s strong record of support for K-12 education and school construction, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today joined school, county and local officials at the St. Michaels school campus in Talbot County to mark the start of a 38-month, $31.8 million renovation project. The State of Maryland is contributing $6.8 million to the project.
“Over the last four years, the State of Maryland has invested an unprecedented $2 billion in school construction and modernization,” Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “Thanks to that investment, important projects like the St. Michaels campus renovation project are moving forward. I am proud to join this community in celebrating this exciting accomplishment for the children of Talbot County.”
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us all to celebrate something that we have been waiting for many, many years,” said Talbot County School Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon. “We are so excited to begin the renovation project here at St. Michaels Elementary and St. Michaels Middle/High schools.”
“For Talbot County, this is the largest school renovation construction project ever,” Talbot County Council President Hilary Spence. “This is a huge investment in public education, which we think is incredibly important to our community and to our state.”
The project includes a complete renovation of all existing space in both schools, as well as new construction such as a lobby to link the buildings, expanded Easton Daycare facilities and a Head Start classroom. The existing high school cafeteria will be converted to a 500-seat theater/auditorium that will be available for school and community use. The new high school cafeteria will be in a central location, where it will be served by the same kitchen serving the cafeteria for middle and elementary school students. The schools’ overhead electrical heating and cooling system will be replaced by a more cost effective geothermal system. The project has a projected completion date of August 2033.
“Quality school facilities are important for obvious reasons, such as air conditioning, lighting and computer wiring, but they also should help schools to be an inspiring environment that kids will want to come to, that they will take away with them for a lifetime of memories about a good place, the teachers, the staff and the facility itself,” said Dr. David Lever, Executive Director of the Maryland Interagency Committee on Public School Construction. “This particular facility stood out among the top 10 in my visits of the worst facilities in the state, so I am absolutely delighted to see this happening.”
Over the last four years, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lt. Governor Burbank have invested a record $2 billion in school construction and modernization, building, modernizing or refurbishing 9,000 classrooms across the state.