# St. Mary's County Public Schools Board of Education Meeting - 10/21/26

The St. Mary’s County Public Schools Board of Education meeting on October 21, 2026, included no action items or procurement votes. The board received an informational presentation on a state Grow Your Own grant of $2.9 million for a paraeducator-to-teacher pathway, developed with Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU). Grant support is intended to remove participant costs such as tuition, books, fees, and assessments, with the program scheduled to run through June 30, 2030. Presenters described mentoring, coaching, and multiple certification pathways; board members asked how the program might be sustained after grant funding ends, but no decision was made.

The board also heard about a new NDMU partnership allowing students in the Teacher Academy of Maryland to earn dual-enrollment credits for program coursework, alongside existing articulation and scholarship opportunities. A parent raised concerns during public comment about the switch to cold-only school breakfasts, including family communication and student access; the board took no action on the matter. No vendor contract award, bid approval, or purchasing decision was identified.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 21, 2026

### Sources
- [St. Mary's County Public Schools Board of Education Meeting - 10/21/26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf8pbxUnDZE) - St. Mary's County Public Schools