Reply to Dec 18th: FY 2026 Recommended Operating Budget

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What else since there's a massive shortfall? [/quote]

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 [b]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.  [/b] 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. [/quote]

Wouldn't that be the capital budget, rather than the operating budget?[/quote]

The part that is operating budget not paying for the salaries of the staff from that building.  So cafeteria staff, front desk, health room, janitorial, administrative etc….  And of course eliminating some teaching positions. Add in no upkeep, no utilities, no HVAC and no busses to that location The capital budget savings is on not doing any scheduled capital improvement projects.  [b]Closing an underutilized school when other nearby schools have enough capacity is a huge cost savings[/b].  Of course it stinks for the kids who were walking distance from the closed school. And it stinks for staff who hopefully all could be reassigned to schools with openings instead of loosing their jobs but fiscally it makes no sense to keep a school open that is under capacity and projected to remain that way or in the case of what MCPS shows for some areas continue shrinking.   With budget constraints if taxes are not raised, MCPS can’t afford not to make the hard choices such as closing under capacity schools in geographies shown to have continued shirking school age population.  [/quote]

Sure, in theory, but the capital budget was just approved without anything about closing any schools, so this is all moot.[/quote]

The CIP budget is approved to move to the county council.  But if not enough money comes from county council it will be modified. Basically the BOE approved the superintendent’s approved CIP and that now moves to county but none of that matters if they do not get enough money from the county. If they do not get enough funds they then will have to revise to fund the most pressing CIP needs. The approved budget is just a pipe dream unless they get the money.

In the Wootton cluster elementary school capacity is at around 75 percent.  If you closed one school the remainder could easily accommodate those students.  I know pretty much nothing and can see the cost savings that could then go to not doing the CIP feasibility studies and any resulting work on either Dufief or Coldspring — both of which are scheduled for that. This money could go elsewhere. And then for operating budget the staff reduction and elimination of daily operating cost would be huge.  I am not proposing this, just saying huh if I see this then it is pretty obvious.

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Lynne Harris suggested closing Cold Spring and then she was voted out of office.[/quote]

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