Montgomery schools budget cuts $16 million off target
By Luke Reiter
Special to The Examiner 11/21/08
Montgomery County public schools were recommended to meet a savings target of $19.4 million as part of County Executive Ike Legget’s savings plan for the 2009 county budget. However Chief Operating Officer Larry Bowers said in an education committee meeting that schools were only predicting savings of $3 million on the year.
“We began the year with a budget that was already extremely tight,” Bowers said. He said the schools had already reduced their budget $37 million before beginning the fiscal year, causing many “difficult cuts, in terms of positions.”
Increased enrollment contributed to the hardships, as projections were exceeded by approximately 1,500 students, distributed across all age levels. Averages are up by one-half student per class at the elementary level and one student per class in the middle schools, according to Bowers.
The education committee accepted the staff recommended savings of $3 million, however they expressed frustration with the disparity from the projected amount.
“I’m just trying to figure out the disconnect,” said council President Michael Knapp. “The gap between three and 19.4 is a pretty big one.”
Transportation was listed as another key variable. Bower said weakening oil prices might make deeper cuts possible.
7 Comments
Reader Comments:
POSTED Nov 21, 2008
Smart Parent: "Don't be fooled by the rhetoric. Look at the credit card transactions and dining habits of those in charge of the school system. Keep an eye on the procurement issues in MoCo. Who approved the Promethan purchase? The BOE spends more money on administrative needs than student teacher needs. Don't ask the unions to renegotiate until the spending is brought under control."POSTED Nov 21, 2008
Smart Parent: "Don't be fooled by the rhetoric. Look at the credit card transactions and dining habits of those in charge of the school system. Keep an eye on the procurement issues in MoCo. Who approved the Promethan purchase? The BOE spends more money on administrative needs than student teacher needs. Don't ask the unions to renegotiate until the spending is brought under control."POSTED Nov 21, 2008
MCPS spending doesn't look tight at all: "We began the year with a budget that was already extremely tight,” Bowers said Really? Then why in the summer did MCPS purchase $14 million worth of Promethean Board products? $14 million equals the annual pay of 200 teachers. How will it work when only a Promethean Board is in the classroom and there is no teacher?"POSTED Nov 21, 2008
Janis: "Want to see what a tight budget looks like? Take a look at the expense reports for MCPS administrators. http://www.parentscoalitionmc.com/MCPSExpenseReports.html How do students benefit from restaurant dinners for 45 staff members?"POSTED Nov 21, 2008
Robin Ficker Broker Robin Realty: "From FY06 to FY08 the school system lost 3,086 students, yet added over 1,000 employees, few of them teachers. The school system has 1100 administrators, who do not teach, who are paid over $100,000 a year for a school year of 8 1/2 months. They are spending like the DOW is still at 14,000. But the DOW is now at 1997 levels. In 1997, the entire county budget was less than what the budget of our wasteful school system is today. How can they spend $19 million for white blackboards when blackboards have been fine for generations? They are out of touch with homeowners."POSTED Nov 21, 2008
Robin Ficker Broker Robin Realty: "From FY06 to FY08 the school system lost 3,086 students, yet added over 1,000 employees, few of them teachers. The school system has 1100 administrators, who do not teach, who are paid over $100,000 a year for a school year of 8 1/2 months. They are spending like the DOW is still at 14,000. But the DOW is now at 1997 levels. In 1997, the entire county budget was less than what the budget of our wasteful school system is today. How can they spend $19 million for white blackboards when blackboards have been fine for generations? They are out of touch with homeowners."POSTED Nov 22, 2008
Mark D. Fennel: "If Montgomery County School Superintendant Jerry Weast is so concerned about kids, he should start with a salary cut for himself. This guy makes more than a United States Senator. . .this guy makes more than a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. And he makes more than Joe Biden will as Vice President of the United States. Mark D. Fennel was the Republican Nominee in the recent May 13 Special Election for County Council"