Somerset County Board of Education works on budget, hears from parents on school requests

Posted 4/26/22

WESTOVER — Somerset County Public Schools is asking the County Commissioners for $10.49 million as the local share of a $47.346 million budget for fiscal year 2023, which is about 5.5% more …

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Somerset County Board of Education works on budget, hears from parents on school requests

Posted

WESTOVER — Somerset County Public Schools is asking the County Commissioners for $10.49 million as the local share of a $47.346 million budget for fiscal year 2023, which is about 5.5% more than the current year.

The largest contribution is from the state at $35.56 million with $100,000 from other sources. State aid is an increase of more than $2 million which includes teacher salary incentives, a mental health coordinator and an earmark for priorities that were formerly grant funded.

Linda Johnson, chief financial officer for SCPS, reported that right now salaries are proposed to rise by 3.75% plus one step, however, negotiations with the bargaining groups are not complete and the $1.336 million estimated increase may change.

“That is not set in stone,” Ms. Johnson said to the County Commissioners at their April 12 meeting.

An open work session by the Board of Education is planned for 9 to 11 a.m. April 28.

Currently there are no teachers in the system who are rated as Nationally Board Certified but if there were the state’s “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future” requires they receive an additional $10,000 per year starting July 1.

Should they be in a designated low-performing school (which none are in Somerset County) add an additional $7,000 per year.

A new “career ladder” pay scale must be adopted for FY25 with the starting teacher salary in FY26 at $60,000. Currently it is $49,175 and filling that gap is the basis for the proposed percentage pay raise.

“It’s a mandate, it’s got to be done,” said Superintendent Dr. John Gaddis.

Instructional costs represent 40% of budgeted expenditures, with mid-level administration 10% and administration 3%.

Related to employee expense is health insurance, which Ms. Johnson said is expected to increase by nearly $200,000 or 3.1%. Retirement costs are also rising by $160,000 which represents an increase of nearly 23% in what the local board is currently obligated to fund.

New and replacement technology combined with instructional software are budgeted to increase by $925,000. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic devices were purchased for every student with federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and county funds.

When ESSER ends it will be time to start the replacement cycle.

“We’re using the remaining ESSER funds to replace some of those devices that in another year will be obsolete,” Ms. Johnson said.

For classrooms, interactive ClearTouch boards are replacing the old Promethean boards and that continues in FY23.

The instructional software piece of technology replacement “goes up the more you work with digital devices” and the more online resources used. Ms. Johnson said out of the $925,000 projected some $420,000 is for software but most likely that will be less as staff review what’s actually needed in the coming year.

To expand pre-kindergarten there was state aid but that is shifting to become a more local expense, which out of the $900,000 increase represents $200,000. Ms. Johnson said some 50% of the pre-K staff was funded by expansion grants, and while the state allocation is increasing, “it still won’t totally offset” the full expense.

For maintenance and operations the increase over FY22 is estimated to be $456,000. That is to complete maintenance projects requested by principals, cover increases in supply and mandatory water testing costs — plus the addition of a sixth maintenance technician responsible for preventative maintenance.

The Maintenance of Effort (MOE) required by the county of $10.49 million does not include the $136,500 previously authorized for stadium lights at Crisfield High School — an allotment that requires a match from SCPS. Non-recurring funds are for one-time needs and not factored when calculating MOE.

After the meeting with the County Commissioners the Board of Education held a work session to hear from parents the priorities for funding at the schools which their children attend.

In Crisfield, Woodson Elementary School wants to maintain all staff including a reading intervention teacher, whose grant-funded salary runs out this year. It would like a permanent half-time nurse to supplement the part-time nurse, add a half-time cafeteria worker, and add a comprehensive special education teacher.

Lindsay Atkins, who has a son at Woodson and a stepdaughter working there as a paraprofessional, said the playground needs resurfacing, and the big equipment is becoming brittle and should be replaced with landing pads installed underneath.

Lynne Johnson, on behalf of Crisfield Academy and High School which her son attends, said bathrooms “original to the building” need renovating and fixtures replaced. Outside a marquee sign is requested for the front of the school to announce school and community activities.

For staffing, an additional special education teacher for students with disabilities is needed, and another learning support specialist.

Staffing is a priority for Somerset Intermediate School, including classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. Mother of three attending the school, Roneisha Fosque, said there hasn’t been enough teachers to cover classes so a full-time substitute is wanted. That person could help with instruction and provide some consistency in the classroom.

Outdoors the expanse of concrete leading to the school once had landscaping but it was removed. Ms. Fosque said it can be replaced with native plants by seventh graders who are learning about this in class, but they need the funding for plants and materials. It could also be done as a lesson with Somerset County Technical High School horticulture students, she added.

Parent Kathy Landon has two children at the technical school and with enrollment down she recommends hiring a paraprofessional and a counselor to assist with recruiting.

A new course, CTE Exploration, is requested to let younger high school students know about the opportunities in tech ed, with the goal of having them start in the 10th grade and completing their studies as juniors so when they are seniors they can be interning or in an apprenticeship program.

If not at a job site then seniors can take dual enrollment classes through Wor-Wic, Ms. Landon said.

The addition of an approved class for welding and/or animal science was also suggested, as well as a driver education program, either through the school or in conjunction with a private company.

That way students with a vehicle will be able to get to their job assignments.

Requests for upper county schools were similar, for example, Princess Anne Elementary requested paraprofessionals in pre-K for special needs students, Greenwood Elemtary asked that its Dean of Students position be retained and that there be improvements to the playground and basketball court — plus two additional portable classrooms because space in the building “is becoming scarce,” said Principal Kirstin Gibson.

At Washington Academy and High School parent Lakeisha Jackson requested the return of the Dean of Students position, the addition of two math teachers, and hiring a teacher for electives, preferably to teach French. To add to the video surveillance already in place at the school she said six cameras are needed to cover the remaining sections.

For Deal Island Elementary renovations to the cafeteria/gymnasium floor along with a partition to separate it for when gym class is occurring is needed. Parent Melissa Beauchamp also asked for a mobile smartboard for the math intervention teacher, plus an increase in the per-pupil allocation for materials and resources.

Fundraisers are being used to pay for equipment instead of it being used for family events, she said.

Following the presentations Dr. John Gaddis said budget work will continue, adding that fortunately “we believe we have good numbers from the state” which represents 75% of all revenue. The FY23 budget once adopted is effective on July 1.

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