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Montgomery County To Use School Funds for Other Items PLEASE SEND EMAIL
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Anonymous
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May 17, 2011
Dear Friend of Montgomery County Public Schools, The Montgomery County Council says it is committed to our schools, but has a very funny way of showing it. So, the Board of Education is asking for your help in reminding our County Council members of their obligation to our students and their future. As you may be aware, the County Council has announced its intentions to cut $107 million from the Board of Education’s budget request. This will continue the County Council’s recent history of ignoring Maryland law and taking state funds meant for our neediest students and using those funds to balance its side of the budget. The Council’s action jeopardizes state education funding next year by setting MCPS up to receive an additional $26 million fine from the state because of the Council’s disregard of state law. It is important to point out that over the past three years, the Council has taken $118 million (75 percent) out of the $160 million in increases we received in state education aid and used that money for non- educational purposes. These funds were sent to Montgomery County to address our growing enrollment and the increasing educational needs of our students, but the county used it to fund other areas of its budget. This year, they are planning to take every penny of increased state education aid and spend it on something besides education. Even more disturbing is the Council has made it clear they are seeking to “rebase” school funding—meaning they want to permanently lower their funding commitment to our students. Funding already has been slashed by $1,300 per student compared to Fiscal Year 2009. We understand the economic realities the county is facing. We agreed to the County’s request for a waiver at the amount proposed by the County Executive. The $82 million reduction he proposed provides no increase in local funding even though we anticipate enrollment to grow next year by about 3,000 students. In fact, over the past three years, we have endorsed the county’s efforts to get state permission to fund education a total of $300 million below the legally-required limits. This has not been easy: We have raised class sizes; we have eliminated hundreds of teaching positions; we have cut our Central Office staff by more than 20 percent. Our employees have willingly given up their cost of living increases the past two years—with little acrimony—and, likely, will not get an increase next year, either. We’ve done our part to help the county through this difficult time. But we will not stand by and watch the Council flout state law and take money that is meant for our students. Please share the facts below with your friends and neighbors so that they will know the truth about the Council’s actions. We are asking you to contact County Council President Valerie Ervin at 240-777-7960 or at councilmember.ervin@montgomerycountymd.gov and tell her that state education funds are meant for our schools and should not be touched. We only have two days to get our message across before the Council votes on Thursday, so please call or write as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support of Montgomery County Public Schools. Sincerely, Christopher S. Barclay, President Montgomery County Board of Education |
Anonymous
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It's a $25 million cut -- not $107 million.
The cut is targeted at employee health benefit premiums and retirement benefits. The cuts won't impact kids at all. |
Anonymous
You must be an idiot: "The state board will decide June 15 whether to waive a penalty of $51 million in state aid because MCPS did not spend at least the same amount on their school systems as they did the previous year. If the $51 million penalty is not waived, MCPS' budget cuts will reach about $212 million this year, when it expects enrollment to increase to 2,800 students system-wide." http://www.gazette.net/stories/05192010/montnew162657_32572.php |
Anonymous
Oooh, is this Angry Teacher who just loves to call people idiots?  Check your link. That was last year's news. The ball game has changed this year.
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Anonymous
Can you not read? As you may be aware, the County Council has announced its intentions to cut $107 million from the Board ofEducation’s budget request. This will continue the County Council’s recent history of ignoring Maryland law and taking state funds meantfor our neediest students and using those funds to balance its side of the budget. The Council’s action jeopardizes state educationfunding next year by setting MCPS up to receive an additional $26 million fine from the state because of the Council’s disregard of state law.[i] |
Anonymous
You're the idiot. Although the link may be from 2010, the info reflects budget year 2011. So the info is indeed correct and relevant to REAL TIME. |
Anonymous
| It's over for Montgomery County. What you are seeing is the beginning of the end. We bailed and moved to Fairfax. |
Anonymous
You know the budget is for FY12, right? Which starts July 1? This year's "REAL TIME" budget, as you call it, was approved last May. |
Anonymous
That's the Board's political spin and it's not true. The Council is getting ready to cut $25 million from the Executive's recommended budget. |
Anonymous
Please send a link or some back up to what you are claiming. Thanks! This is what I see is happening - FACTS ABOUT THE MCPS BUDGET Over thepast three years, MCPS has received a $160 million increase in state education funding due to our growing enrollment and the growing educational needsof our students. The County Council has redirected 75 percent of that increase for non-educational purposes. The CountyCouncil has been clear that they are seeking to “rebase” school funding, meaning they want to permanently lower the county’scommitment to education. With the county council’s latest round of cuts, we will receive $1,300 less per student from the county next yearcompared to what was allocated in Fiscal Year 2009. In taking this action—and by choosing not to seek a waiverfrom state law—the County Council is essentially guaranteeing that a $26 million fine will be exacted on the school system. Due to action by thestate legislature, this fine will be levied in FY 2013, meaning the school system will begin the following year’s budget process in a $26million hole. Over the past three years, MCPS has made more than $300 million in difficult cuts, even as our enrollmenthas increased by more than 6,300 students and we have a greater percentage of students receiving Free and Reduced-price Meals and ESOL services. We have eliminated several hundred teaching positions; reduced central administrative services by more than 20 percent and our employees havenot received a cost of living increase in two years—and most likely will not have one next year. We havebeen smart about how we have cut our budget. For instance, last year, many wondered why MCPS employees didn’t have to take furloughs. We,instead, eliminated $21 million from our budget permanently. The county cut its budget by $12 million with furloughs, but had to increase overtimepayments and now has to find $12 million to eliminate furloughs next year. County leaders have now forsworn furloughs as a “budgetgimmick.” Because of changes in pension contributions and federal tax law, MCPS employees will already see a 4percent reduction in their take home pay next school year. Now the County Council wants to hit them even harder by asking them to pay more for theirhealth benefits. Yes, we provide our employees with good benefits. They do great work and deserve to becompensated. But we have successfully contained our healthcare costs in a variety of ways. For several years, we have provided incentiv __._,_.___ es for ouremployees to join HMOs. Consequently, 64 percent of our plan participants are in this lower cost, more efficient option. By comparison, only 33percent of the county employees are in HMOs and they are just getting on board with this idea. Perhaps most frustratingis the fact that none of this is necessary. County Executive Isiah Leggett presented a balanced budget that included an $82 million reduction from theBoard’s request even though we expect 3,000 more students next year. Now the Council wants to cut even more and spend state education dollars onnon-education priorities. Ultimately, these issues can be resolved only if all elected officials sit down and negotiate in the besttradition of Montgomery County. |
Anonymous
What are your credentials that you know this to be true and why is it okay to cut education money when it's clearly not okay to make the cuts? |
Anonymous
| Oh, your credentials are The Washington Post. That makes it true! http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/montgomery-county-budget-to-cut-25-million-from-schools/2011/05/16/AFd5vG5G_story.html |
Anonymous
| how many of those 3000 new students are illegal? |
Anonymous
Anyone who follows County government understands that the fiscal year starts July 1. Please understand the budget process before you insult people about it. |
Anonymous
I'm sure quite a few will be, however I really don't care. It's another issue altogether and not one being lobbied here. I'm worried about the quality of the school system and education losing more money from the budget. Slashing the budget wont stop illegals from entering the school system, and frankly, if you don't like illegal immigrants being educated here in Montgomery County you are free to move elsewhere or send your child to a private school. |