Anne Arundel school officials are expressing confusion over how their county executive failed to fund requested special education positions, negotiated contracts and staffing at the new elementary school in Gambrills.
“As I have said before, I am puzzled as to why this county ? one of the wealthiest counties in the wealthiest state in the nation ? continues to fund its educational system at a lower level than other nearby jurisdictions,” said Superintendent Kevin Maxwell in testimony before the Anne Arundel County Council on Friday.
Maxwell has said Howard County provides its school system with more than 50 percent of its funds.
Anne Arundel only dedicates nearly half its funds for the school system, he said.
On Thursday, County Executive John R. Leopold announced a $917.6 million proposed fiscal year 2009 operating budget for the school system, more than $50 million short of the School Board?s request, said Susan Bowen, the school system?s director of budget and finance.
A major concern from school officials was its $71.9 million request to meet all the requirements of the negotiated agreements and employee benefits was not fully funded.
“The county has provided full funding for all of these areas in years past, and I?m baffled as to why the county executive has not done so this year,” Maxwell said.
“I?m even more stunned that he has not done so when he has, in fact, fully funded all of the contracts for county employees.”
Another move that baffled school officials was Leopold?s partial funding for the new elementary school in Gambrills that will open this fall.
Leopold provided only $280,000 for a principal, secretary and custodian, after the School Board requested $880,718 for 15 positions.
Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4, said Leopold?s budget request shorted 12 people and $600,000.
“We either can?t open it, or we have to take positions from somewhere else,” Maxwell said.
One of the other most glaring omissions in Leopold?s budget was not providing $3.12 million from 44 special education positions, Maxwell said
“The cuts in special education severely affect our most vulnerable population,” he said.
“I would also remind you that it costs far more to deliver compensatory services and pay for legal fees due to non-compliance in special education than it does to do what is right for our children in the first place.”
School officials said they were now 69 special education positions short after recent cutbacks in state and federal aid.
Leopold?s proposed operating and capital budget could be approved by the County Council as early as June 2.
