News

MCPS faces the possibility of budget reductions for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 in the event that the Montgomery County Council does not approve Superintendent Jerry Weast’s $2.3 billion budget proposal.

His proposed budget, which was approved by the Board of Education on February 17, does not include cuts to any programs or services currently available to students. However, Weast created a list of possible reductions that could be made if the County Council rejects his plans during its meeting on May 20. These reductions include a decrease in staffing by 240 classroom teaching positions and a cut in funding for secondary school extracurricular activities.

"Everyone hoped that the Superintendent’s recommended budget would pass through the Board of Education. It will now go to the county level for review," says Brenda Hoyle, Sherwood’s Business Administrator. "If the recommended budget is approved then the reductions proposed will not have to be implemented."

The County Council’s decision on the budget will be based on the state of the economy as well as whether Montgomery County succeeds in its battle against a $23.4 million fine from the state. This fine is based on the county’s failure to meet "Maintenance of Effort" regulations for educational funding during FY 2010.

"Dr. Weast stresses that [the possible reductions] are, at this point, proposed," says Hoyle. "If reductions are needed, there will be a lot of conversation that takes place between the unions, and stakeholders and different people to determine which of these reductions will actually be implemented."

The MCPS budget allocates lump sums of money to each of its schools to be spent in a variety of specified areas. Within those areas, school principals, in collaboration with their respective administrations, decide how the money will be spent. Thus, any cuts in the county budget will have a direct impact on the programs and services offered at county schools.

"We use our resources wisely," says Principal Bill Gregory. "So I don’t let money go unused. This year we looked at: do we have the textbooks we need? Are we set for next year? So some of next year was thought of this year."

Although Weast does not intend to fire any teachers, even if budget reductions are instated, there is a possibility that current teachers will have to be laid off. In that event, school administrations would look at needs of the school’s departments and the seniority of staff members to decide how to fit staffing requirements. Those teachers who are laid off would be placed on an involuntary transfer list and the county would look for them to be placed in another school.

"I hate [placing teachers on the list] because people are loyal to their schools," says Gregory. "Unfortunately I’m the person who has to sit and talk to people about that, and I hate it every time I do it."