LA PLATA, Md. — A discussion requested by Commissioner Ralph Patterson during Tuesday’s Charles County Board of Commissioners meeting provided additional details on how the DMV Soldiers semi-professional basketball team uses St. Charles High School facilities and how related fees are handled through Charles County Public Schools.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Patterson said of the team playing in Charles County. “It’s just that the public has been asking me how much, what is the money going to be used for? I was just curious as to how this all came about.”
Patterson also said he originally believed the arrangement may have needed approval or involvement from the Board of Commissioners before learning the agreement was handled directly through Charles County Public Schools.
“I had residents asking questions about the agreement, including how much the team pays to use the facility and where the money goes, and I just wanted to better understand it myself,” Patterson said.
Commissioner Amanda Stewart questioned the purpose of the discussion and asked Patterson to clarify whether there was a concern surrounding the agreement itself.
“Can you help us understand what’s the concern?” Stewart asked. “I’m trying to figure out why this is on the agenda.”
Patterson clarified that his goal was transparency after receiving questions from residents about how the agreement worked and where the collected fees go.
Mike Heim, chief of operations and supporting services for Charles County Public Schools, explained that all organizations seeking to use school facilities must complete an application process and provide proof of liability insurance.
Heim said groups using school buildings outside regular operating hours, especially on weekends, are charged fees to help cover staffing and operational costs.
“We do have fees for groups that use our facilities on Saturdays and Sundays because it requires us to have building service workers come in and open the buildings,” Heim said.
Heim said the DMV Soldiers paid facility, locker room and staffing costs for their 12 Sunday home games at St. Charles High School, totaling $12,504 for the season. He said the fees are intended to cover operational expenses such as staffing, utilities and cleanup rather than generate profit for the school system.
“We’re not trying to make a profit on that,” Heim said. “We’re just trying to cover our operating costs.”
The agreement between the school system and the DMV Soldiers covered a one-year term for the team’s first season. Heim said the use agreement was approved May 6, 2025.
School officials also noted that the same facility use policies apply to many other community groups, including churches, dance studios, youth sports organizations and Parks and Recreation programs using school buildings and pools.
The DMV Soldiers’ final regular-season home game is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, against DC Heat at St. Charles High School in Waldorf. Get tickets here.
Watch the full May 12, 2026, Charles County Board of Commissioners meeting on CCGTV.
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