Dec 18th: FY 2026 Recommended Operating Budget

[Anonymous]

Though the net total of students is about the same, individual schools' populations have changed and APs are assigned by school #s and student population needs, like Title 1 schools.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Though the net total of students is about the same, individual schools' populations have changed and APs are assigned by school #s and student population needs, like Title 1 schools.

So, the needs are higher. So they had to increase positions by about 1,000 between FY21 and FY25. Yet they also increased class size. Make it make sense.

[Anonymous]

This doesn’t make sense: kids literally running around their school buck naked throwing their poop at staff at the secondary level. There are serious problems in society right now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t make sense: kids literally running around their school buck naked throwing their poop at staff at the secondary level. There are serious problems in society right now!

I'm stunned the additional 5 "Executive" positions have done nothing to address student behavior issues or special needs. Maybe MCPS should buy another app to deal with poop throwing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

Well yeah, it disturbed their vibe when their students had to rejoin in-person school communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

Just because others working conditions are different or they are not experiencing the same stresses as you, does not mean they are not doing their job effectively and providing a needed service. Also another perspective to keep in mind is they may be helping things from being worse in your situation.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know where I can find the budget book?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, Marriott has hundreds of thousands of employees at thousands of locations worldwide and has 5,000 staff at headquarters. MCPS has 200 schools and change and 25,000 employees of which nearly 3,000 are at CO. Pure bloat.

Not saying there isn't bloat, but it would be important to know how many of those "at CO" are the types of administrators we might consider bloat, vs. those who are organizationally seated at CO but either are at schools for instructional/operational support or are the lower-level CO-types whom we (or the bulk of us) tend to consider essential for the system to operate at scale. The Merriott comparison may not be valid without that detail.

Obviously, Marriott is not a public school system. We can all point to numerous important distinctions between these organizations. But it's telling Marriott can handle operating 9,000 locations across the world, subject to a variety of different laws and legal systems, with 5,000 staff at headquarters. And MCPS somehow needs almost 3,000 non-instructional staff assigned to CO for 210 schools? It strains credulity.

But it's not 3000, it's been said numerous times many of those assigned to co are already in schools.

What does it mean to be "in schools"? They're non instructional staff. What do they do?

As said earlier in this thread, OTs, SLPs, Special Ed SWs, even the people who test newcomer students in schools, all these are assigned to CO when they are in multiple schools.

Therapeutic Counselors as well. But by all means cut all of these "extra" CO positions. Just don't cry about your kids not receiving their services later on.

I have had multiple Zoom calls with the "school-based" CO staff who support special education students. They are sitting in their homes and I am at school, staying late, to participate in these meetings.

That’s how I felt when I had meetings with MVA people. They have their refrigerator in the background and their dog on their lap. I’m being called on the radio, the fire alarm is going off, and a kid is having a meltdown in my office.

But, parents went crazy over the MVA closing.

I think they need to cut the CO by 50%. I won't support another tax increase until they get spending in line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know where I can find the budget book?

Have you tried googling "MCPS operating budget"?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know where I can find the budget book?

Have you tried googling "MCPS operating budget"?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/

Only posted today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Though the net total of students is about the same, individual schools' populations have changed and APs are assigned by school #s and student population needs, like Title 1 schools.

It's bizarre to me that between FY21 FY25 they added in total over 200 staff in the following categories:
- Executive
- Administrative (directors, supervisors, program coordinators, executive assistants)
- Business/Operations Administrator (leadership positions supervised by directors and supervisors)
- Other professional (12-month instructional/evaluation specialists)
- Principal/Assistant Principal
- Other Support Personnel (business, technology, human resources, communications, printing and other support staff)

And in FY25 they CUT 258 teaching positions leading to some massive class sizes.

It really feels like the priorities are way off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Though the net total of students is about the same, individual schools' populations have changed and APs are assigned by school #s and student population needs, like Title 1 schools.

It's bizarre to me that between FY21 FY25 they added in total over 200 staff in the following categories:
- Executive
- Administrative (directors, supervisors, program coordinators, executive assistants)
- Business/Operations Administrator (leadership positions supervised by directors and supervisors)
- Other professional (12-month instructional/evaluation specialists)
- Principal/Assistant Principal
- Other Support Personnel (business, technology, human resources, communications, printing and other support staff)

And in FY25 they CUT 258 teaching positions leading to some massive class sizes.

It really feels like the priorities are way off.

I feel like we finally have a Superintendent who values teachers. It felt like previous ones blamed teachers for poor data.

[Anonymous]

The whole employee benefits fund issue is bizarre to me. They are essentially saying they won't set premiums at a level that will actually cover the cost of the services. Already the share paid by employees is low compared to other county employees. And this means it's even lower than they claim because they are subsidizing it. It's not transparent and it's not sustainable. They should be up front and admit