Newark, MD, June 13, 2024– In a 4-1 vote today, the Worcester County Board of Education adopted a revised budget for the upcoming fiscal year following the County’s reduced funding level announced earlier this month.
On June 4, the county struck its budget including $105,393,692 for the Board of Education, of which $1,587,052 is restricted for use toward Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) for retirees and cannot be used toward current employee salaries. This reduced funding level coupled with new Blueprint restrictions for Early Childhood allocations has left the Board facing a budget shortfall of over $2.7 million.
To address this shortfall, the Board entered renegotiations with the Worcester County Teacher Association (WCTA) and Worcester County Educational Support Professional Association (WCESPA). Table agreements were reached earlier this week with both associations that include the following salary increases:
WCTA: Salary step and five percent cost of living adjustment
WCESPA: Salary step and five and a half percent cost of living adjustment
Bus contractors will also receive an increase equivalent to a five percent cost of living adjustment.
“We are at a tipping point in Worcester County,” Board of Education President Todd Ferrante said. “Not only are we facing a mandated starting teacher salary of $60,000 as part of the Blueprint, we are beginning to lose high quality teachers and staff to neighboring counties. We must compensate our employees to show them how much they are valued, but also to entice potential recruits to make Worcester their chosen place to begin or elevate their career.”
With the negotiated reduction in the salary package, the Board also approved a series of reductions to close the funding gap. These reductions include the following:
No restoration of the cuts made in FY24
Materials of Instruction will remain funded at 50%
Field Trip allotments will remain funded at 50%
Elimination of locally funded afterschool and summer programs, including transportation
Elimination of Outdoor Graduation Ceremonies
Instructional support supplies and administrative supplies will remain at 75%
Elimination of the Opening Kick-Off event for faculty and staff
The elimination of 18 positions (Six contractual, 12 appointed):
Central Office: Six positions
School-based: 12 positions
The elimination of extracurricular activities at the elementary and middle school level
A reduction of coaching staff across all high school athletic programs
Program and material reductions including Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports (PBIS), Testing and Assessment, Textbooks and Supplies, and Arts Immersion
Transportation reductions including:
Elimination of a north end bus route
Reduction of Worcester Technical High School runs to the comprehensive high schools
In addition to today’s announced reductions, four certificated positions previously funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding will cease effective July 1.
“To make any cuts or reductions like this is painful,” Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor said. “Each year, we build a budget that includes what we believe is necessary for the continued success of our schools, and each of today’s announced reductions undermine that success.”
“Our county cannot continue down this path of underfunding public education; this trend will decimate our schools,” Ferrante added. “It is time that our elected officials align their actions with their words. To say you support education – our teachers, staff, and bus drivers – your voting record should reflect that, and if it doesn’t, your constituents should know that, too.”
Voting in favor of the motion were Dr. Jon Andes, Mr. Todd Ferrante, Ms. Elena McComas, and Mr. Donald Smack; voting against was Ms. Katie Addis. Absent from today’s meeting were Mr. Bill Buchanan and Mr. Bill Gordy. Following today’s vote, school system leadership will submit the Board’s revised FY25 budget categorical amounts to the Commissioners for approval at the body’s upcoming June 18, 2024, regular meeting.
To view the livestream of today’s meeting, please visit https://youtube.com/live/grBeVV4meC0?feature=share.