Council puts brakes on school board’s funding transfer
Tried to move $745K from transportation to mental health
The Anne Arundel County Council voted Monday night to reject allowing the Board of Education to transfer funds allocated for student transportation services to pay for additional mental health professionals.
This vote, which was 4-3, determined whether the school board would shift $745,100 of its roughly $1.3 billion budget.
The transfer would have replaced seven administrative positions in the transportation department with five school counselors, a school psychologist and a school climate teacher specialist focused on restorative practices.
The board can still add mental health professionals but cannot do so with funding allocated for student transportation services.
Council Chair Allison Pickard, D-Glen Burnie, voiced concern that the council was overstepping its role by denying the board’s funds transfer. But Councilman Nathan Volke, R-Pasadena, who supported the resolution to reject the board’s budget amendment, emphasized the council’s role.
“Board of Education, we’re the final fiscal authority, next time just do it the way we sent it to you,” Volke said.
Rodvien The resolution to reject the budget amendment was brought forth by Councilwoman Lisa Brannigan Rodvien, D-Annapolis. Her chief concern was that she felt the board was pitting the needs of a flawed transportation system against the mental health of students, and emphasized the need for reform within the county school’s transportation system.
“My resolution is basically saying to the school board, we do not want you to use the transportation funding to fund these mental health positions,” said Rodvien.
The resolution was supported by Rodvien, Volke, Councilwoman Sarah Lacey, D-Jessup, and Councilwoman Jessica Haire, R-Edgewater.
The Board of Education will have to adopt the budget as the council intended or
This vote, which was 4-3, determined whether the school board would shift $745,100 of its roughly $1.3 billion budget.
The transfer would have replaced seven administrative positions in the transportation department with five school counselors, a school psychologist and a school climate teacher specialist focused on restorative practices.
The board can still add mental health professionals but cannot do so with funding allocated for student transportation services.
Council Chair Allison Pickard, D-Glen Burnie, voiced concern that the council was overstepping its role by denying the board’s funds transfer. But Councilman Nathan Volke, R-Pasadena, who supported the resolution to reject the board’s budget amendment, emphasized the council’s role.
“Board of Education, we’re the final fiscal authority, next time just do it the way we sent it to you,” Volke said.
Rodvien The resolution to reject the budget amendment was brought forth by Councilwoman Lisa Brannigan Rodvien, D-Annapolis. Her chief concern was that she felt the board was pitting the needs of a flawed transportation system against the mental health of students, and emphasized the need for reform within the county school’s transportation system.
“My resolution is basically saying to the school board, we do not want you to use the transportation funding to fund these mental health positions,” said Rodvien.
The resolution was supported by Rodvien, Volke, Councilwoman Sarah Lacey, D-Jessup, and Councilwoman Jessica Haire, R-Edgewater.
The Board of Education will have to adopt the budget as the council intended or
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