A victory for Baltimore, P.G. County schools in Annapolis
Gov. O'Malley announced this afternoon that he is withdrawing the changes in education funding formulas that would have hurt Baltimore and Prince George's County so badly. In 2012, they'll need to fight again over the distribution of payment for non-public placement for special education students. (The governor's proposal to shift the burden to the locals is deferred until then.) But otherwise -- and I'm still waiting for comment from Dr. Alonso -- it looks like the city schools are getting almost everything they asked for. With the influx of stimulus money, Baltimore will get $84 million more in FY10 than previously projected. Prince George's County will get $72 million more.
UPDATE: Here's our story with more specifics. And see below for the statement put out by the city school system tonight.
Good News for City Schools:
Governor Taps Stimulus to Fuel Education Progress
(Baltimore, MD) —Gov. Martin O’Malley announced today that he will tap Maryland’s federal stimulus package to build on the state’s commitment to excellence in education in fiscal year 2010. The decision is critical to the continued progress of City Schools, where enrollment is up for the first time in four decades and students are making historic academic gains.
“I had great confidence that the governor would continue his strong support of the progress in City Schools and I am very appreciative of the Baltimore City delegation for making this their top priority this year,” said Brian D. Morris, chair of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. “This allows us to continue to place the focus of the school system entirely on the needs of our students.”
Gov. O’Malley’s announcement underscores his commitment, and that of Maryland’s and Baltimore’s legislative leadership, to safeguarding the progress now underway in City Schools and other school systems across the state. The state will maintain existing education funding formulas, including the Thornton Law, which provides the state’s poorest jurisdictions with additional resources so that all of Maryland public school students have equal access to a good education. City Schools students have benefited significantly from this commitment to equitable education funding, and led the state in progress on the Maryland State Assessment test last year.
“I applaud the governor and our legislative leaders for making decisions so quickly, and in such tough times, that safeguard the future of our children,” added City Schools CEO Andrés A. Alonso. “I thank our community for advocating so strongly for our kids. Now we need to deliver that future as a community.”
Categories: Around the Region, Baltimore City, School Finance
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
HEY does that mean new boilers for schools.
Poly could use them. As could TMHS and virtually every building more than 30 years-old in the city.
Posted by: Poly teacher | February 20, 2009 4:42 PM
About time for some good news- fantastic!
Posted by: Marie | February 20, 2009 6:04 PM
Whoo-hoo! I wouldn't mind knowing what motivated the change of heart (so we know what to do the next time), but going with the concept of never looking a gift horse in the mouth I won't ask. And since Dr. Alonso said to say thank you I guess I'll even send a follow-up email to O'Malley.
Posted by: a parent | February 20, 2009 6:10 PM
I'll add a YIPPEE to that.
This is great news and a big thanks to all who fought for it. P.S hopefully when the new boilers come they will work right. Ours still don't work right after millions of dollars poured into our boilers. Woodhome School
CConroy
Posted by: Carol Conroy | February 20, 2009 6:24 PM
I don't know what stimulus bill everybody else read but the one I have indicates that the State had basically no choice in the matter of restoring the funding cuts. It's clearly stated in Title XIV. I don't consider this a favor; it's just following what appears to be the intent of the law. I do have to admit that I didn't read all 1100 pages to find the loopholes.
Posted by: L. | February 20, 2009 7:39 PM
Maybe the bill said the governor had no choice, but somehow he waited until today to say he had changed his mind about changing the funding formula. I'm wondering if the fact that the president had a press conference about holding government officials responsible for using the money that they're given under the stimulus had something to do with it.
Posted by: a parent | February 20, 2009 8:34 PM
The Governor only cut back funds to balance the budget. Once federal funds became available; he rushed to place them where his priorities are...EDUCATION! Some states have Governors and lawmakers who are blocking the flow of these dollars into their states, or once in their states, down into the schools. I've got kids in the schools and I consider myself lucky to have a champion in the State House.
Posted by: School advocate | February 20, 2009 8:53 PM
Are guys serious? It's the least your champion could have done after having 100 million lost on his watch. Where did that missing 100 million ever go from Baltimore City funding?
Most of that money should go to infrastructure though considering how dilapidated so many of the school buildings are in the City.
Sorry, but, in my opinion, you can throw all the money you want at a problem whether its education, fighting a war, or public safety. And only history has shown that Martin has consistently failed throughout his public service. You can't have an incompetent clown like Martin run the show if you want progress.
Hell, I'd brather have Dixon even if she did take a few gift cards and furs. She delivered results last year. About fifty fewer homicides I believe from last year. Judge a leader by the results.
Thus far, O'Malley hasn't done anything besides play Santa Clause. Props for the funding, no doubt, but please take off the knee pads. BTW, Citistat and Statestat are both jokes!!!
Posted by: Ballz Mahoney | February 20, 2009 9:42 PM
i'm gonna say that O'Malley saw the 3,000 students, teachers, and parents coming down to Annapolis on March 3rd, got scared, and gave us what we wanted before we got a chance to make some noise. smart move.
thank you O'Malley!
and Obama for even making this possible!
Posted by: Anonymous | February 21, 2009 10:21 AM
This is welfare for the richest state in America. What a disgrace!
Posted by: J. Thomas | February 21, 2009 10:32 AM
YOU WANT TO THANK O'MALLEY AND OBAMA?
THANK O'MALLEY FOR BMORE'S #1 RANKING IN MURDER PER CAPITA OVER HIS DREADFUL TENURE
YOU THINK THE DAWSON FAMILY THAT GOT FIREBOMBED IS THANKING THE PUNK?
AND OBAMA...JENNIFER HUDSON REALLY THINKS THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WENT OVER WELL ENOUGH FOR THE THUGS OF CHICAGO TO KILL HER FAMILY.
OBAMALAND, CHICAGO IS TOPS IN MURDER PER CAPITA
3 TEENS INCLUDING A 13 YR OLD WERE KILLED JUST TODAY THERE
HOPE YOU SURVIVE TO BENEFIT FROM BIG GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING SPREE :-)
Posted by: Ballz Mahoney | February 21, 2009 1:04 PM
Don't lose sight of the fact that this "big government spending spree" is OUR money to begin with. We might say yippee right now, but eventually we're all going to have to pay for this -- big time -- including several generations after us.
Posted by: SouthernGal2 | February 21, 2009 5:09 PM