Dec 18th: FY 2026 Recommended Operating Budget

[Anonymous]

Superintendent Thomas Taylor will present his Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Operating Budget on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. Watch the presentation live on the MCPS website or on the MCPS-TV YouTube channel.

[Anonymous]

What's being cut??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's being cut??

Central office positions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's being cut??

Central office positions

Thank you, Thomas!!!!

[Anonymous]

What else since there's a massive shortfall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

I know folks are concerned about the ES class size, but honest secondary needs some major relief. MS class sizes are above 30 in some classes. Teachers do not want to teach English classes because the work load is so large and they already aren't giving meaningful feedback which is causing students who care to show up during lunch and planning time. Many schools are overcrowded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

Too many kids take Ap calculus. Problem with MC is transportation and times of classes available. They should make all the hs schedules the same and offer classes through MCPS virtual that they don’t offer through the homeschools. They pay Mc fo those classes so it’s not a cost savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

I know folks are concerned about the ES class size, but honest secondary needs some major relief. MS class sizes are above 30 in some classes. Teachers do not want to teach English classes because the work load is so large and they already aren't giving meaningful feedback which is causing students who care to show up during lunch and planning time. Many schools are overcrowded.

Very true. Many classes are 34-36 students, some more at our hs. They don’t even have enough desks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

I know folks are concerned about the ES class size, but honest secondary needs some major relief. MS class sizes are above 30 in some classes. Teachers do not want to teach English classes because the work load is so large and they already aren't giving meaningful feedback which is causing students who care to show up during lunch and planning time. Many schools are overcrowded.

They need more than one teacher if the class size is that large.

[Anonymous]

Put the equity office staff back in classrooms where they can do real equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What else since there's a massive shortfall?

We will find out once he releases the budget. I have heard central office and no student facing secondary school positions during his talk to the civic association. There will need to be more. I assume he plans to keep the increased class sizes started last year. I also head him mention issue in county with underutilized elementary schools projected to become more underutilized. I know the boundary study leaves out elementary school assignments but would not be shocked if he signaled willingness to close the most underutilized schools that are near schools that could take the displaced students. That would save large money. He could also eliminate some speciality academic programs that use MCPS busses. That would save money. He could lean into using Montgomery college more for upper level classes — as some high schools already do for classes above AP calculus and AP physics — and save money on teacher salaries/pensions by not having MCPS staff teach those classes while saying this makes it more equitable on opens access to higher level classes to all. He is going to have to cut some things that will anger parents.

I know folks are concerned about the ES class size, but honest secondary needs some major relief. MS class sizes are above 30 in some classes. Teachers do not want to teach English classes because the work load is so large and they already aren't giving meaningful feedback which is causing students who care to show up during lunch and planning time. Many schools are overcrowded.

They need more than one teacher if the class size is that large.

Some have that and it’s still not enough. This is 30-40 students times 5 classes. And let’s not even talk about what this is doing to some Science classes. Even if 2 teachers you still need space and equipment to be able to do experiments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put the equity office staff back in classrooms where they can do real equity.

There is like 11 people in the equity office including a secretary, director, 6 instructional specialist and 2 equity specialist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Put the equity office staff back in classrooms where they can do real equity.

There is like 11 people in the equity office including a secretary, director, 6 instructional specialist and 2 equity specialist.

I am sure most of these staff are either certified as a school administrator or certified as teachers.