RIDGELY — Scott Evans, executive director of the Benedictine School, lead both a ribbon-cutting for a new road and a groundbreaking for new student residences at the school’s property in Ridgely.
A crowd of donors, political aides and school supporters, along with just over $3 million from the U.S. Senate and the state legislature, made this moment possible.
“Where we are standing now is Phase 1. We needed a new road to bring a loop around before we could start on the construction,” Evans said. “We would like to thank Stacey Seward and Dan Fox, who is not here, from Caroline County to help us get a community development block grant that helped us build this road. Justin Fair was the project manager at the state and Cindy Stone. And then Robyne Chaconas, who is the deputy director the Community Development Administration.”
The excited crowd clapped.
“When we talk about this master plan, it didn’t only take a village in the beginning to develop the plan. It is going to take a village to bring it to fruition. We are starting to see that by this first step,” Evans said.
Then on this windy cloudless day, 10 people joined Evans as he snipped the royal blue ribbon signifying the opening of the road around campus.
Going 100 feet and down a hill were five golden shovels by a patch of dirt. In the background was a backhoe and the space where residences will be built.
Benedictine got $1.8 million in congressional directed funding to support these new spaces for residents who have developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism.
“Benedictine is launching its ‘Transforming Lives’ campaign to address the needs of its student demographic that has significantly changed since the existing residential spaces were built,” a press release from Benedictine said. “Over 80% of the student population that Benedictine now supports is living with more complicated forms of autism. The new residential wings will include suites equipped with multiple recreational and sensory areas, along with an updated dining area and state-of-the-art infirmary.”
Evans spoke while those assembled grabbed golden shovels.
“Where we stand now and what is behind me is the old convent for the sisters. As you know, our campus operates 24/7, 365. When we started this, one of the biggest obstacles was how are we going to update our facilities and not hamper what we do on a daily basis serving the students,” Evans said.
“We could refine and develop a space that really does meet the needs of the student profile that we serve today. That is what is most important. The next is how do we pay for it?”
Funding for the school comes primarily from the state, Evans said.
“A lot of people stepped up beginning with Gov. Hogan’s office and then Gov. Moore’s office giving us capital. And then our entire congressional delegation, including Sens. Van Hollen and Cardin, Rep. Andy Harris,” he said.
There was even more local delegation support that included state legislators — Sen. Stephen Hershey and Sen. Johnny Mautz, Del. Jeff Ghrist, Del. Chris Adams, Del. Steven Arentz and Del. Jay Jacobs, Evans said.
“They really went to bat for us with bond bill money and capital monies at the state. Because of our advocates in Annapolis, we were able to get $1.25 million in capital, which is huge,” he said.
Benedictine will start building the new facility in a few weeks.
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