Budget would increase class size
enoughparents in the county understood what wasatstake in schools.
Bell saidhewouldhaverather seen the budgetcuts, ifnecessary, atthe administrativeorfacilities construction level.
“It’s ashame. Ifanything, this program should be expanding,” Bell said.
Theschool system isproposing to spend $50.5 million over several years to deal with ahealth-fund deficit.
Thehealth-fund deficit is projected to reach $50 million by summer and has been caused from an imbalance in itsemployee health and dentalfund.
Board members also approved a $79 million request for capital projects, such as $6 million for renovations to Hammond High School,$4 million for renovations to WaverlyElementary School and$8million for the construction of a replacement TalbottSprings ElementarySchool.
As they made their votes, members including Vaillancourt and Christina Delmont-Small stated that this year’s budget woes were symptomatic of a larger problem in the county thatthe schoolsystem is chronicallyunderfunded.
“We donot have the money to run the schoolsystem,” Delmont-Smallsaid.
Duringhis remarks,Martirano saidthat he wanted to see the county engage in a “serious conversation” about how it prioritizes and funds education, something Vaillancourt said wasnecessarytoresolve what she said has been a decade of underfunding the school system.
“We’re underfunded, we have been for years....
“The community needstohelp,” Vaillancourtsaid.
Board member Kirsten Coombs said that as part of that conversation, it would be necessary to discuss whether to raise taxes in the county to better support the school system.
“Our growth is so high, student growth outpaces the tax base,” Coombs said.
Educators’ union president Colleen Morris implored the public to voice its support for the school system’s budget and for education in the county. Morris called the board’s budget request a “call to action.” kmagill@baltsun.com
Bell saidhewouldhaverather seen the budgetcuts, ifnecessary, atthe administrativeorfacilities construction level.
“It’s ashame. Ifanything, this program should be expanding,” Bell said.
Theschool system isproposing to spend $50.5 million over several years to deal with ahealth-fund deficit.
Thehealth-fund deficit is projected to reach $50 million by summer and has been caused from an imbalance in itsemployee health and dentalfund.
Board members also approved a $79 million request for capital projects, such as $6 million for renovations to Hammond High School,$4 million for renovations to WaverlyElementary School and$8million for the construction of a replacement TalbottSprings ElementarySchool.
As they made their votes, members including Vaillancourt and Christina Delmont-Small stated that this year’s budget woes were symptomatic of a larger problem in the county thatthe schoolsystem is chronicallyunderfunded.
“We donot have the money to run the schoolsystem,” Delmont-Smallsaid.
Duringhis remarks,Martirano saidthat he wanted to see the county engage in a “serious conversation” about how it prioritizes and funds education, something Vaillancourt said wasnecessarytoresolve what she said has been a decade of underfunding the school system.
“We’re underfunded, we have been for years....
“The community needstohelp,” Vaillancourtsaid.
Board member Kirsten Coombs said that as part of that conversation, it would be necessary to discuss whether to raise taxes in the county to better support the school system.
“Our growth is so high, student growth outpaces the tax base,” Coombs said.
Educators’ union president Colleen Morris implored the public to voice its support for the school system’s budget and for education in the county. Morris called the board’s budget request a “call to action.” kmagill@baltsun.com
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