A Winter #MACoCon Conversation With School Construction Chief Alex Donahue

Maryland’s policy landscape is shifting, and counties are at the center of critical conversations about education, housing, public safety, economic growth, and the changing state-local relationship.

At this year’s Winter Conference, MACo will host a candid, forward-looking interview with Alex Donahue, Director of the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC), to explore top issues in public school construction. Guided by MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson, this session offers attendees a perfect opportunity to hear directly from a statewide leader about what’s next for Maryland’s communities.

Title: From Policy to Progress: A Conversation About What’s Next 

 Description: This interview-style session with a policy leader offers a dive into public school construction – a top priority across every part of the state. Recent years have driven up labor and materials costs, and costs for both new and remodeled school facilities have spiked. A daunting queue of State-approved but unfunded projects looms, as capital budget funding hasn’t kept up with demand. Excellence in education requires modern, safe facilities. This talk will focus on the State’s efforts underway and those still needed to best serve Maryland’s schoolchildren.

Speaker: Alex Donahue, Executive Director, IAC

Moderator: Michael Sanderson, Executive Director, MACo 

Date/Time: Thursday, December 11, 2025; 10:30 am – 11:30 am 

MACo’s Winter Conference, “Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What’s Next,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD, on December 10-12, 2025. 

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: