The Washington Post reported yesterday that Montgomery County teachers and other school employees have agreed to forgo a 5 percent pay raise next year, saving that school system $89 million and closing a budget gap. Superintendent Jerry Weast also plans to cut about 280 central office jobs.

In Baltimore, the school system faces a $46 million budget shortfall for next fiscal year, but that's before any increased labor costs that it commits to in upcoming union negotiations. It's also before any new needs are factored in, and as I've reported here before, Dr. Alonso wants to offer universal pre-kindergarten. As we've been hearing for months, expect North Avenue to take another big hit.