MCPS Budget Process 2010

We need you to get involved in the MCPS Budget Process this year.

The Superintendents' proposed budget included several possible cuts to the Magnet Program:

• • A reduction of 5.0 full time teaching positions from high school special programs countywide.

  • A potential reduction of up to 12.9 full time teaching positions from special programs countywide.

  • A potential reduction or elimination of all funding for magnet buses countywide.

  • A potential reduction of stipends and other expenses for secondary school extracurricular activities countywide.

The Board of Education passed a budget on February 17 rejecting most of the Superintendent's cuts. (Gazette) (Washington Post) The County Council will now consider the budget in March.

What You Can Do:

Contact the County Council:

• • Montgomery County Council (county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov)

    • Marc Elrich (councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov)

    • Nancy Floreen (councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov)

    • George Leventhal (councilmember.leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov)

    • Duchy Trachtenberg (councilmember.trachtenberg@montgomerycountymd.gov)

Many parents have already written letters or testified before regarding the 2010 budget:

• • January 8, 2010: David Argue writes a letter to the County Council and Board of Education: "The essence of what it means to have these programs as "magnets" for students from around the county requires that transportation be provided."

  • January 19, 2010: The Magnet Foundation writes a letter to the Board of Education: "We urge you to consider the students and teachers of Montgomery County's special programs as you work on the FY 2011 MCPS Operating Budget."

  • January 20, 2010: Eric Marx testifies at a meeting of the Board of Education: "even though the threatened cuts would save only a tiny amount of money, they would absolutely kill these programs as we know them."

  • January 23, 2010: Robert and Cynthia Strouse write to the Board of Education: "This is a special, needy population. They are special in a different way than you typically use this term. They are needy in a different way than you typically use this term. They are special and needy all the same."

• January 24, 2010: Mark Gross writes to the Board of Education: "If the best and the brightest kids don't have the opportunity to pursue a strenuous education, they'll simply tune out at school."

  • January 27, 2010: Sharon Goodall writes to the Board of Education: "The motivated and dedicated staff at Blair has found creative ways to get by with past cuts but there is a limit to their resourcefulness."

  • February 2, 2010: Beth Kaufman writes to the Board of Education: "I know these are tough times, but a prudent family stops eating restaurant meals and turns off its cable service before it stops feeding the children. A prudent school board should do the same."

What to Say:

Speak from the heart, and explain what the Magnet means to you. You can read testimony from other parents, students and alumni for inspiration.

Here are the facts regarding the proposed budget cuts:

Staff Reductions:

• • Proposed reduction of 5.0 teaching positions from high school special programs countywide

    • It is likely that some of these reductions will affect the Blair Magnet teachers.

    • This cut is in the Superintendent's proposed budget on page 1-26 (pdf) and will happen unless the Board of Education acts to remove it.

  • Potential reduction of up to 12.9 teaching positions from special programs countywide

    • This cut is item B in a list of "potential major reductions" (pdf) if the County does not provide the minimum amount of funding for Maintenance of Effort.

    • These cuts will not occur unless the County Council provides MCPS with less funding than expected, and unless the Board of Education chooses to enact them.

  • The History:

    • Countywide special programs teaching positions were already reduced significantly last year

      • 16.9 positions were cut for FY2010

      • These cuts affected the Blair Magnet (~1 teaching position)

        • Ms. Ragan retired and was not replaced

        • Mr. Donaldson is no longer full-time

    • The Blair Magnet has been affected by the cuts in the past

      • Over the past several years, the Magnet has been cut from ~18 teaching positions to ~13 positions

      • In FY2009, significant cuts were made to the Blair Magnet:

        • 2-3 teaching positions were eliminated (retirement of Mr. Bunday and Ms. Dyas; passing of Mr. Rogers)

        • Most Magnet teachers are required to teach one extra period (5 classes instead of 4)

        • Teachers are no longer paid extra for teaching 8th period

Bus Transportation:

• • Potential reduction or elimination of all special program buses countywide

    • This cut is item H in the list of "potential major reductions" (pdf) if the County does not provide the minimum amount of funding for Maintenance of Effort.

    • These cuts will not occur unless the County Council provides MCPS with less funding than expected, and unless the Board of Education chooses to enact them.

    • The proposal includes buses for all "magnet, immersion, IB, high school consortia, and other special programs"

  • The History

    • Buses have been transporting students to the Magnet Program since its inception in 1985.

    • In the past two years, the County has already reduced funding for extracurricular transportation e.g. ARML

Extracurricular Stipends:

• • Potential reduction of stipends and other expenses for extracurricular activities

    • This is item T in a list of "potential major reductions" (pdf) if the County does not provide the minimum amount of funding for Maintenance of Effort.

    • These cuts will not occur unless the County Council provides MCPS with less funding than expected, and unless the Board of Education chooses to enact them.

    • This funding allows teachers to sponsor clubs and provide extracurricular support, and these cuts could threaten the magnet 8th period and many after-school activities.

  • The History

    • MCPS has already cut funding for many academic teams, like the County ARML team, the ACSL All-Star Team, and the Envirothon teams. See a list of clubs that have sought funding from the Magnet Foundation here.

    • Budget cuts have already put increased pressure on magnet teachers, making it more difficult to offer extra math help or keep computer labs open during lunch and after school.

    • Stipends that were previously paid for chaperoning field trips like Wallops Island have already been cut.

If you have any questions, please contact board@mbhsmagnet.org.