The Harford school board wants to patch relations with the county government, which turned tense when the proposed 2008 operating budget was millions of dollars short of the board?s original request.
“We?re not going to get all the funds we think we need to continue to take things to the next level,” said School Board Member Tom Fidler on Friday. “We would be foolish not to complain at least a little bit … but the school system?s not going to implode.”
“There?s always some level of animosity. Somebody feels aggrieved that they didn?t get everything they requested,” said Bob Thomas, spokesman for Harford County Executive David Craig. “It?s foolish to think that they?re going to send everything to the county executive, and he?s going to be able to fund it all.”
Craig was on the defensive during a budget briefing Thursday.
Intervention programs may not have been increased, but enrollment has gone down slightly, so Harford can make do with existing programs, he said.
Harford may have funded only an $8.3 million increase over last year, but the state has offered an additional $20 million. Craig said the school board could not justify all its requested increases.
“I don?t know where [Craig]?s coming from with that,” Board Member Lee Merrill said. “He?s been an assistant principal, and he knows how the schools work.”
Merrill cautioned against creating an adversarial relationship with the government, since the school board is part of the same organization.
The school board abruptly canceled last Wednesday?s meeting after the school system announced a budget crisis and called for “massive budget reconciliation reductions.”
Most school board members were waiting until their Wednesday meeting to comment on the budget. Superintendent Jacqueline Haas? office will not comment until then.
UP UNTIL NOW
» In January, the Harford School Board submits a $210 million request of the county, focusing on special education, opening a new middle/high school and expanding intervention programs for students struggling with reading and math.
» Last Wednesday, the school board was briefed on how much Harford is willing to fund. A meeting that night was suddenly canceled so staff can spend a week reviewing the budget and fixing the gaps.
» Last Thursday, Harford County government revealed it will fund all but $12.7 million of the schools? operating budget, which covers ongoing expenses such as health care. A larger pay raise for teachers, new intervention positions and facilities support staff are among the requests left out.
