Howard County Schools Superintendent Sydney Cousin recently proposed a $659 million operating budget for fiscal 2010, which is 0.3 percent higher than this year’s budget.
The budget, which Cousin called “fiscally prudent,” still will add 44 teaching positions and help update the school system’s technology education labs, among other improvements, school officials said.
Budget funding also will be provided
» To expand classes and programs that help high school students who fail the High School Assessments, which students must pass to graduate;
» To cover an increase in summer school enrollments; and
» To expand evening school to include students 18 and older for the first time.
In preparation for anticipated state revenue reductions, Cousin identified several cost-saving measures, such as eliminating 11 unfilled central administration and support positions.
The county funds about 70 percent of the budget, while state and federal sources cover the remainder.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 3. The Howard School Board approves the budget request Feb. 24 and then forwards its recommendation to County Executive Ken Ulman.
