St. Mary’s Early Learning Academy
The St. Mary's County Commissioners approved a priority enrollment list on April 14 for the new St. Mary’s Early Learning Academy, a county-backed childcare center scheduled to open in August 2026 in Leonardtown.
The academy will operate out of the former Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy building, which is being renovated into a childcare and early education facility expected to accommodate about 100 children ranging from infants through pre-kindergarten age.
Commissioners asserted the project is intended to help address childcare shortages while also improving recruitment and retention for county employees, particularly first responders and public safety personnel.
The 9,300-square-foot building is undergoing approximately $3.5 million in renovations and upgrades to bring the facility up to code and convert the space into classrooms and childcare areas. In early 2024, the county terminated Leonard Hall’s lease after officials determined the school could not afford more than $500,000 in needed repairs to the property.
Initially, the county planned for the Department of Recreation and Parks to operate the childcare center directly. However, the commissioners later approved an agreement with the YMCA of the Chesapeake to manage the facility instead.
During earlier discussions, Commissioner Eric Colvin expressed concern that the project’s costs had increased beyond his original proposal, which involved constructing a modular childcare building on the county government campus. Commissioner Mike Hewitt voiced support for the YMCA partnership, backing the organization’s experience operating childcare programs.
Under the agreement approved in February 2026, the YMCA will lease the building from the county for up to 15 years and handle day-to-day operations, including staffing, utilities and routine operational expenses.
The county will provide the YMCA with $20,000 for information technology, communications and security-related startup costs. The county also remains responsible for major building maintenance and capital expenses, including HVAC systems, plumbing, flooring replacement, repainting, exterior maintenance and playground infrastructure.
The agreement also establishes a revenue-sharing arrangement between the county and YMCA. Recreation and Parks will receive 4% of gross receipts during the first year of operation. Once enrollment reaches 90%, the county’s share increases to 7.5%, and at 95% enrollment the county will receive 10% of gross receipts for the remainder of the lease term. If operating hours expand to 16-hour days, the county’s share remains at 7.5%. If the center eventually operates 24 hours a day, the county’s portion decreases to 5.5%.
County employees will receive the lowest childcare rate without being required to purchase a YMCA membership.
County memo
Under the enrollment policy approved April 14, county employees will receive exclusive enrollment access before remaining openings become available to the public.
The approved priority list ranks applicants in the following order:
St. Mary’s County first responders and essential personnel, including sheriff’s deputies, correctional officers, dispatchers, EMTs, paramedics and emergency management staff.
All other St. Mary’s County employees.
St. Mary's County Public Schools teachers.
All other school system employees.
State, local and federal government partners.
General public applicants.
The operating agreement also states the YMCA may give enrollment preference to its own employees before opening remaining slots to the general public.
During the April meeting, Recreation and Parks Director Ray Bivens said the academy will follow an educational curriculum designed to prepare children for kindergarten.
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