School board calls budget cuts 'untenable'

Spending plan would delay renovations, raises

By ELISABETH HULETTE, Staff Writer

Published 05/07/09

Examining the county executive's pared-down budget proposal yesterday, the county school board and superintendent determined it is "untenable" from almost every angle.

Poring over the lists of planned school renovations, employee raises, programs and purchases that will be delayed because of the lack of funding, they said the money will have to come from elsewhere in the schools.

"There's no sense pretending we can fix this by turning out the lights. We can't," said schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell.

The budget unveiled by County Executive John R. Leopold on Friday had to compensate...

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Really? - 2009-05-07 21:35:48

6 weeks left of school, so there is plenty of time for Teachers to run as fast as they can to Howard County, or anywhere else. Threaten to not pay Health insurance claims and how long do you think people will continue to work? Cut out raises while living in a high cost county, why work here?

There are dozens of ways to trim/cut spending but that's not one of them. Schools dont improve when you're hiring rookie teachers every year. When schools dont improve (AYP) bad things happen and more federal mandates kick in.
Funding charter schools for 800k is a political stunt, if they are so good why do they need 800k - whats the cost per student? Ridiculous. Schools have a long way to go to get to 'best practice' but you cant support President Bush's NCLB on one hand and not pay for it on the other. Sheesh.

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mike o. - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral

Oh Good! 2 - 2009-05-07 18:11:01

nope, right on schedule with this year's whine fest. No mention, though, that Maxwell knew he'd only get a $2mm increase last fall -- as predictable as the tides, they ginned up a $45 million budget increase, knowing they wouldn't get it, so they could repeat the annual spring ritual. What's funny is the school board got slammed in the Sunday Washington Post for their financial track record, and apparently the good doctor reacted by saying he wouldn't take his bonus this year (according to the muckraker). Chalk one up for the taxpayers.

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Chris Doherty - Harwood, MD - Karma: Excellent

Oh good! - 2009-05-07 17:39:41

I was so afraid I'd missed the annual whine fest from the unelected Dr. Maxwell and his unelected school board "yes-men" about the cruel and austere budget they receive from the elected county executive and from us, the tax-paying county resident stooges. Poor poor Dr. Maxwell and his 150 or so six-figured annual salary Riva Road bureaucrats. How ever will they survive? Next comes the justification for all the bonuses and raises the bureaucrats have "earned". It seems to be the same story every year. Its old and wearisome. Take the same advice we tax-payers use to survive, suck it up and drive on. Stop the whining!

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Dave D. - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Excellent