 Board of Education
Board Columns, Presentations and Speeches
2010
2009
2008
Roberta Wise, Board Chairman
Work Session Budget Comments
May 2010
Download this document 
We appreciate the opportunity to review and clarify information about our operating budget. The past several years have been economically challenging, and we have effectively managed our budget to deal with state and local cuts while maintaining quality instruction and safe schools.
Our commitment to students and parents - and to the community - remains strong. Our budget has been downsized, but we have not downsized our expectations. Accountability and the classroom are in the forefront of each decision we make, and we continue to meet or exceed local, state and national student achievement benchmarks.
We have managed nearly $13 million in budget cuts over the past two years by significantly reducing spending and reallocating our resources. We have reduced staff, mostly at the administrative level, lowered spending for maintenance and technology, cut health insurance costs and initiated cost saving measures by looking at alternative ways of doing business. The money you invest in Charles County Public Schools is well spent, and we spend tax money wisely. Academic achievement and school safety are considered in every budget decision we make.The budget we are presenting is most significant for what it does not do. It does not cut our reading program. It does not cut summer, before- or after-school academic programs. It does not cut fine arts or athletic programs, or require parents to pay participation fees. It does not limit or reduce expenditures on textbooks or materials of instruction. It does not require that we furlough our teachers or staff. It does not require that we significantly increase class size. You only need to look at many school systems around the beltway, and across the nation to recognize the excellent job we have done in managing our way through this financial crisis.
Our students' achievements are evidence of our success. During the past year, our school system met Adequate Yearly Progress, the national and state measure of academic improvement and success. We have increased the number of highly qualified teachers in our classrooms to nearly 93 percent. We have continued to upgrade the security and safety measures in our schools so they remain safe places to learn and teach. We have done all this while working toward excellence, and the national and state benchmarks.
You may recall the annual master plan update that is presented to you each fall. In that document are a number of goals and objectives that are designed to meet the accountability requirements of Bridge to Excellence, No Child Left Behind, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and in the future, Race to the Top. All of these require continuous student improvement.
All that being said, the FY2011 budget request before you is a very modest one. The budget request represents only 2.4 percent increase in county funding to eduction. In aggregate, it only represents a 1.3 percent increase in total county funding. We have already managed and fully funded the cost of mandatory increases related to transportation, health insurance, and this school year's negotiated agreement. The only item we are asking you to consider is the salary scale progression related to fiscal year 2011. This is not a raise or a cost-of-living increase; it is a negotiated scale based on experience that impacts about 66 percent of our employees.
Not maintaining our employees on their relative appropriate step defers this obligation to a future year making it much more difficult to fund. The economy has had a real impact on our teachers and staff who still maintain their morale and dedication to their children, parents and citizens of Charles County.
Fortunately, there are many indicators that an economic recovery is imminent and Charles County is well poised to reap the benefits of that recovery. A sound, progressive public school system is paramount in Charles County's economic recovery and future.
Thank you for this opportunity to discuss our budget.
Roberta Wise, Board Chairman
Budget Hearing Comments
May 2010
Download this document
Col. Donald Wade, Board Vice Chairman
Portfolio Column
March 2010
Download this column
Col.
Donald Wade, Board Chairman
Budget Column
November 2009
Download this column
Col. Donald Wade, Board Chairman
H1N1 Column
October 2009
Download this column
Col. Donald Wade, Board Chairman
Opening Statement to Commissioners
March 4, 2008
Download this speech
CIP Testimony
Col. Donald Wade
Chairman, Board of Education of Charles County
January 30, 2008
Download this speech
CIP Testimony
Col. Donald Wade
Chairman, Board of Education of Charles County
January 30, 2008
Download this speech
|
About This Site | Contact Us | Home | 
