Devastating. That was how Anne Arundel Superintendent Kevin Maxwell described the impact County Executive John R. Leopold?s proposed operating budget would have on the school system.
“It?ll be devastating for the school system,” said Maxwell.
“You can?t go from good to great by underfunding the school system.”
The School Board proposed a $968.85 million operating budget ? a $99.9 million net increase from the approved 2008 budget ?but Leopold supported $917.6 million, a loss of more than $50 million.
The School Board?s operating budget consists of general and restricted funds including grants.
Maxwell said Leopold?s request would leave the school system $6.3 million short of honoring employee negotiated salaries, including a $3.8 million shortfall in covering negotiated teacher agreements under the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County.
“Mr. Leopold urged me to honor the contract agreements but he has not helped honor the contract agreements,” Maxwell said.
County officials, however, said sufficient funds were provided.
“I urge the superintendent to join with me in honoring their contractual commitments to our teachers and our secretaries and assistants. Diverting resources from these vital priorities must be resisted,” Leopold said.
Regardless of the county?s action, the negotiated agreements will be funded, said Susan Bowen, the school system?s director of budget and finance.
This may mean 150 teaching positions could remain vacant next, Maxwell said. Elsewhere, the school system will explore making cuts to classroom equipment and other materials.
“You can?t make up this difference in the budget without cutting people,” he said.
“The real losers are the children and it?s really a shame that this is all the priority there is for our children.”
Leopold?s proposal also underfunds other areas including 44 special education teaching positions, 12 school-based secretaries and 12 custodians, school officials said..
Leopold also underfunded the School Board?s $188.33 million capital budget request, by only requesting $135.96 million, a similar loss of more than $50 million.
Among projects not funded were feasibility studies for Belle Grove, Annapolis, Germantown, Folger McKinsey and Point Pleasant elementary schools and The Phoenix Center, a regional special education center, said the school system?s chief facility officer Alex Szachnowicz.
Another disappointment for Szachnowicz was Leopold?s $10 million cut from the board?s request for $12 million to reduce the school system?s estimated $1.5 billion maintenance backlog.
On the positive side, Szachnowicz said Leopold fully funded school construction projects at Severna Park Middle, Pershing Hill Elementary and Northeast High schools.
