Prince George’s School Board, Superintendent Talk Budget Revisions

Members of the Prince George's County Board of Education convened in Upper Marlboro Saturday morning for yet another round of discussion over Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.’s .

The nearly $1.7 billion budget, now in its fourth revision since December, has stoked plenty of countywide interest and concern among parents, students and teachers. Among others aimed at shoring up the county’s $155 million deficit, budget cuts would eliminate more than

“This budget represents the best of a lot of bad choices,” Hite said during the two-hour long meeting. “None of these choices are easy for us, but the fact still remains we have to eliminate a $155 million deficit.”

Officials largely attribute the deficit to the county’s shrinking base of students, each of whom draw state dollars to the county. And in fact, if next year’s estimate of 125,733 enrolled students holds true, the county will have shed nearly 4,000 students since 2009.

Some of the more notable revisions presented by Hite’s chief financial officer, Matthew Stanski, include:

• The decision not to eliminate half of all JROTC-related programs, which would have saved $2.8 million and eliminated 41 full-time employees. Instead, each of the county's high schools will keep the program but enjoy fewer course offerings and, in some cases, teachers — saving $1.4 million.
• A vacant executive-level position in the Student Services office will not be filled, saving an additional $160,000 on top of the $673,000 already identified in an earlier estimate.
• Predictions of $3.5 million in negotiated health care savings were scaled back to $1.9 million. 
• Unemployment insurance rates will rise for the laying off of school employees, costing the school system an anticipated $1.6 million.
• The elimination of the Reading Recovery program, aimed at first-graders struggling to read, will save more than previously thought, at $4.5 million. On this point, Hite indicated that school principals, at their discretion, may soon be able to preserve the program using certain federal grant funds known as Title 1. That is, as Hite said, pending official approval from the Maryland Department of Education.
• Finally, closure of Camp Schmidt, a 450-acre outdoor education center owned by the school system, will save $400,000 more than the previous $600,00 estimate. 

More than one board member, including Rosalind A. Johnson (Dist. 1), thanked Hite and his staff’s efforts in reassessing and addressing some of these and other budget concerns of late.

“We all have to believe that you clearly want the best for our children. But I want to say to you, I do believe, sincerely, that you do,” she said. “And I think that those changes that I heard this morning reaffirms you do hear us. You hear the public.” 

Others were less convinced, particularly with respect to the elimination of bus service to specialty schools. Hite and his staff offered two solutions: a fee-based approach, in which parents would help foot the bill; and a hub system.

Neither took off.

“While we should invest in and implement some fee-based systems, I do not see how we are going to be able to move to a hub system safely — there are too many questions,” said Henry Armwood Jr. (Dist. 7). “And we’re being asked to vote on something where there are no firm answers over what a hub will be.”

Meanwhile, Donna Hathaway Beck (Dist. 9), focused on Camp Schmidt.

“For me that has to be resolved before I vote." she said. “I can’t support the elimination of the Schmidt Center.”
 
As others have done in public hearings past, board member Carolyn Boston (Dist. 6) broached the subject of high administrative salaries.

“It’s of concern to me, as well as my constituents, that we’re having secretaries with no more than a high school diploma making salaries that really are higher than we hire our teachers (for),” she said.

Above all else, Boston said she hoped the superintendent was working on changing a trend that looks especially “bad” amid talk of increased class sizes and some 1,100 pink slips.

“You’re right, Mrs. Boston; It makes us look like our priorities are out of whack,” said Hite, acknowledging how it doesn’t quite jibe with his mission to put student — and by extension teachers — first. But, he said, “I can’t negotiate the contract without their labor partners in this conversation; however, I think that becomes a critical piece as we talk about the next round of contract negotiations with respect to salaries.”

For more information on these new revisions and others, please visit their website.