Despite stimulus, schools could still suffer
Arne Duncan is to appear at Doswell E. Brooks Elementary School in Prince George's County this morning to announce how states and school districts can begin receiving the first installment of federal stimulus money. Gov. O'Malley and Nancy Grasmick are scheduled to be there, too.
A press release from the governor's office points out that in Prince George's County, administrators plan to use stimulus money "to avoid employee furloughs, layoffs, increases in class sizes and other education program cuts." That is true. But it's also true that such cuts could happen anyway in Prince George's if the state operating budget proposed by the Senate's budget and tax committee and now before the full chamber were to be adopted. I'm told P.G. stands to lose about $22 million next year. The ACLU of Maryland, which is tracking this carefully, said yesterday that the city could take an $18 million hit; yesterday I reported it would be at least $12 million. The House version of the bill contains some of the cuts, but not the biggest ones: a reduction in GCEI funding from 100 percent to 60 percent next year, and a continued cap on inflation increases for school districts in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
Like the last time education cuts were proposed (only to be rescinded because of the stimulus), it seems the state's two neediest jurisdictions would suffer a disproportionate share of the pain. Montgomery County would take a big hit, too.
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Comments
It seems that legislators need to think carefully before cutting funding to the neediest districts in the state. I find it reprehensible that students with the greatest need consistently get the least support from MSDE and from the General Assembly. These students are not going to teach themselves. They need high caliber teachers to not only educate them but to help them deal with the vast societal issues they face on a daily basis. How can we possibly ensure that our students get the tools necessary to not only overcome the social problems they face daily while still gleaning the skills they need to compete in a global marketplace. They can't unless we support the teachers. Furloughs, pay cuts and decreases in professional development only serve to maintain the status quo in education.
Posted by: baltimoremom | April 1, 2009 8:10 AM
Just giving money to schools to spend without accountability is foolish...the money may be spent to further the interest of individual adults with personal and financial interests. I hope that the Sun will follow the money as it is distributed to schools.
Posted by: Ruth | April 1, 2009 6:47 PM
With schools in Baltimore City being decentralized, how will Baltimore City divide the Title One and Special Education stimulus funds to each of the qualified schools?
Posted by: Paul B | April 2, 2009 11:04 AM