The Anne Arundel County Board of Education unanimously approved a $1.82 billion operating budget that would see weapon detection systems installed in all high schools.

Over four hours Wednesday night, the board considered 22 amendments and adopted 18, adding a total of $8.8 million to Superintendent Mark Bedell’s initial recommendation. The final budget request is $138.4 million more than the current year’s budget. In total, the budget seeks 239.2 new positions.

Five of the adopted amendments were proposed by Bedell and reflect changes in projected state and county funding based on Gov. Wes Moore’s budget and county fiscal estimates. These amendments cut $1.5 million and 141.2 positions from Bedell’s recommendation.

The board also approved amendments that add $10.3 million and 11 positions to Bedell’s recommendation. They include funding to install non-invasive weapon detection systems in all 15 high schools. Bedell originally called for a pilot program at two schools.

District 6 Board Member Joanna Bache Tobin said she was concerned about singling out schools. Although people have raised concerns to her about the mental health impact of the systems, Tobin said the board needs to keep students safe.

“In my experience, leadership is mostly about choosing between two lousy options. Given this hideous choice, I believe I have no choice but to support this amendment,” Tobin said.

Hafsa Hamdaoui, the only student on the board, voted in favor of the amendment but voiced concerns about people avoiding the entrances where the systems will be installed.

“Ultimately, I feel comfortable approving it because it is a pilot program,” Hamdaoui said.

The approved amendments also increase the number of new school counselors to 7.5, add two school psychologists, two 12-month bilingual facilitators, and other personnel.

Other amendments spotlight certain programs, such as $300,000 for musical instrument repair and replacement, and another providing $70,000 to the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education program.

“Without this funding, our students must work tirelessly to fundraise to support instructional, hands-on experimental labs,” said Stacey Scofield, a teacher and parent of students in the program.

Several teachers were in attendance to support a 1% mid-year cost-of-living adjustment, which passed unanimously.

“I know these are difficult and uncertain budgetary times, but ultimately, it’s your task to present a budget to the county executive and county council that addresses the school system’s needs,” said Kristina Korona, president of the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County. “As you deliberate tonight, remember that the education of our students can only happen through the efforts of our rank-and-file educators.”

Only Dana Schallheim voted in favor of an amendment funding three additional music teachers.

“When I go to concerts and I see 250-plus students in a fall or spring concert with one instructor, I start wondering, and so I asked a bunch of questions, as I usually do, and this is an enormous caseload for any teacher,” Schallheim said.

However, the other seven board members opposed the amendment, citing concerns about school principal autonomy. It is the principals’ responsibility to allocate funding for hiring within their schools and make calls about prioritizing extracurriculars.

“I have a fundamental problem with this for a few reasons. One is I also know that there’s some physical education classes out there with 48 students. I also know that there’s some art classes out there with huge numbers of students, and so for me to designate three positions for music kind of opens up a can of worms,” said board president and District 2 board member Robert Silkworth.

The budget request now goes to County Executive Pittman, who will consider it as part of his overall fiscal 2026 budget recommendation. He’ll then deliver his budget to the County Council in May, which will hold public hearings before finalizing a budget by June 15.

Have a news tip? Contact Bridget Byrne at bbyrne@baltsun.com, 443-690-7205 and x.com/brdgtbyrn.