Montgomery County teachers have been spared from the budget ax this year, as Superintendent Jerry Weast retreated from a plan to cut 168 teaching positions and increase class sizes. Instead, he is proposing to cut school employees’ annual “step” pay raises for the second consecutive year, shave 34 positions from the central office, cut dozens of support positions, and trim support for special education, English as a second language and struggling students.

Weast also plans to reduce employee benefits and the school system’s contributions to retiree health benefits.