EASTON, MARYLAND — Talbot County Public Schools asked the County Council for $800,000 to install weapons-detection systems. The Council appropriated $400,000. That sum was not enough to buy the system recommended by the district’s school safety office and the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, so the district is piloting a less costly alternative at athletic events this fall.

The Council adopted a $159.1 million county budget unanimously on May 26. The schools’ total appropriation runs to roughly $65 million, including a $1.3 million operating increase and the $400,000 security line. Council member Dave Stepp said he would have supported fuller funding if the district had supplied a detailed implementation plan and cost breakdown. Vice President Pete Lesher described the package as not a perfect budget.

On June 17, 2026, the Board of Education unanimously approved buying three metal detectors from Communications Technology, Inc., for nearly $72,500, for use at the Easton High School stadium and the St. Michaels Middle High School sports complex, supervised by Talbot County Sheriff’s Office personnel. Star Democrat coverage and later district notices say the pilot screens spectators at home athletic events — varsity football at Easton and varsity soccer at St. Michaels — not classroom corridors. The original Aug. 17 notice named Friday, Aug. 21, as the first home event; Easton’s football board lists that date as an away scrimmage. A later Live Feed set Friday, Sept. 4, as the home start. The board voted against pulling another $400,000 from reserves to match the county dollar-for-dollar; members cited roughly $3 million of the district’s $8 million reserve already committed to fixed costs such as health insurance and retirement. Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi said the remaining county money would be earmarked for future weapons-detection efforts.

Both bodies face large turnovers on Nov. 3 — four of seven school board seats and all five council seats. Whatever this fall’s pilot concludes, a different set of people will decide what follows.