[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6543151,"mediaKeyId","3726970-947fcf33965eb021690ade4b9798fa4d","parentId",3726970,"title","Howard County education leaders debate budget scenarios as June deadline nears","audioSeconds",7057,"startMs",96000,"endMs",7153000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726970-947fcf33965eb021690ade4b9798fa4d&start=96&end=7153","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726970-947fcf33965eb021690ade4b9798fa4d/thumbnail_96000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6543151/Howard-County/Maryland/Howard-County-education-leaders-debate-budget-scenarios-as-June-deadline-nears","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543151-82530f2f553583ea4c7113f532d22829/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440775&Signature=iIUHbD9hE7uOhlNlRnnoYhoYadzDVEN4PijlmLWYf4iKoO0sOBWi9MesRwHz1JMbAKyS7VXuMvA8l7vtbHurBdmLou6nvp6VYkzuNYUeNTMpoBJDXxZUhtn2EbvJR43H2k3vZJcBEBpPcgN8-cLvBjhP09rN7zsV9r1df2~mmTyHCKOFgbiH-gvX89ZbANbjsu5jPnBzsKMGUvyn2zmcagviWTVtvmK47Nanj450OSNyd7JgJbMtDXyM7xAAcNQdlcksxbAE~8M23yOD0SDyCPiL0XZpIT9onc3ijbwtJMCdvLPR96XySJ1uJHZbenk76IgcCsaY9aTQOwfLelYygA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","Superintendent Bill Barnes told the Howard County Council and the Board of Education on Tuesday that his January budget proposal sought $67,000,000 above maintenance of effort from the county and that the county’s final funding figure left a roughly $14,000,000 gap.

That shortfall has driven the Board of Education to evaluate multiple “scenarios” for balancing the fiscal 2026 budget, including options that rely on one-time fund balance transfers and options that reduce staff. Barnes said his team developed six scenarios and that the board later considered a seventh scenario proposed by board members.

“The board last Wednesday voted to approve and take forward” a scenario for further work, Barnes said, adding that staff were preparing “technical score sheets” for implementation and that the board has until June 30 to adopt a budget. He warned that earlier clarity is needed for staffing placements and bargaining-unit notifications because “many of the staff who might be impacted by this budget… will be home” at the end of the school year.

Why it matters: the board and superintendent are deciding whether to preserve staffing and program lines now using one-time fund balance or to accept reductions that would reduce recurring costs but could trigger further shortfalls next year. Board members repeatedly pressed on program impacts, equity and the long-term fiscal consequences of tapping reserves.

What the scenarios would change

Board members and staff described two scenarios that became focal points: scenario 6 and scenario 7. School system staff said scenario 6 cuts roughly 64 full‑time-equivalent positions from the operating budget, while scenario 7 cuts about 126.5 operating positions plus 3.5 grant-funded positions that would not continue.

Chief Financial Officer Bridal Hall (transcript spelling) told the meeting that “scenario 7 was developed” after conversations with board members and that late updates caused delays in publishing that scenario to the public and council. County Council members asked whether scenario 7 was created in compliance with open‑meetings rules; board members said the scenario grew from individual meetings with staff and then was shared publicly at the board work session.

Positions added and removed in scenario 7 generated particular controversy. Staff said scenario 7 would add 27 new full‑time positions (13 athletic trainers, seven math coaches/specialists and seven reading coaches) while eliminating larger numbers of other roles in order to cover commitments and new priorities.

Board debate: programs and people

Board member Melissa McCoy (transcript: Miss McCoy) framed the debate around direct impacts on classroom instruction: “The bottom line for me is how we impact students and their outcomes,” McCoy said, and she urged minimizing disruption to staff who “directly work with students.” McCoy and others raised concerns about the plan to restructure gifted-and-talented (GT) services and to cut “grade strings” and school health or health‑assistant positions.

Board Vice Chair Dr. Chen and other board members noted community emails and widespread public engagement. Board member Andrea Chamblee (transcript: Miss Chamblee) told the council, “We don’t cut the budget. We’re advised what the budget is,” and explained constraints such as tax caps and the county’s revenue limits.

Health and safety concerns

Several speakers pressed staff on cuts to health assistants and nurses. One board member summarized data during the meeting: “42.8 percent of HCPSS students have a known chronic health impairment,” and “70 percent of enrolled students have visited a health room.” Several members warned that removing health assistants could affect day‑to‑day operations, field trips, special‑education supports and responses to emergencies.

GT and music

Edme Langford Brown, executive director for curriculum, instruction and assessment, described the proposed GT restructuring as a change in delivery rather than elimination of all program components. “There are many — most components of our GT program are inclusive,” Langford Brown said, describing four components currently offered at elementary grades: primary talent development (K‑2), instructional seminars (grades 2‑5), curriculum extension units (grades 3‑5) and mathematics supports.

Langford Brown said classroom teachers would deliver some components with support and professional learning from GT resource teachers; she added that each elementary school would have at least one GT resource teacher under the proposed model.

Fund balance, projections and the next year

Council members and staff discussed the use of one‑time fund balance as a patch and the risks of pushing costs to future years. Hall and Superintendent Barnes presented fund balance projections: the district projects roughly $5.9 million to $7 million in fund balance at year‑end (staff cited a range as estimates were updated during the discussion). County staff and several board members warned that tapping one‑time funds repeatedly would deepen the structural gap and raise next year’s required increase.

Councilmember comments and advocacy

Several county council members and the board urged stronger communication and earlier decisions in future cycles. One council member noted that other Maryland districts that do not receive the same maintenance‑of‑effort increases are able to finalize budgets earlier and that earlier clarity benefits hiring, contracts and classroom planning.

What’s next

Board members were reminded of procedural requirements: changes to the board agenda must be posted 48 hours before a Thursday adoption vote, and staff asked the board to finalize decisions so employees and bargaining units can be informed promptly.

Quotes (selected and attributed to speakers at the meeting)

- “I put forward a budget proposal to the Board of Education that requested $67,000,000 above MOE from the county,” — Superintendent Bill Barnes.

- “The bottom line for me is how we impact students and their outcomes,” — Board member Melissa McCoy.

- “We don’t cut the budget. We’re advised what the budget is,” — Board member Andrea Chamblee.

Discussion vs. decision

The meeting recorded discussion of multiple scenarios and a prior board vote to advance a scenario for adoption work; it did not record a final, binding county or board adoption of a specific FY26 budget in this joint session.

Ending

Board members and staff emphasized both the operational urgency of finalizing a budget and the longer‑term choices about whether to preserve programs now using one‑time funds or to cut recurring costs and accept more structural reductions for FY27.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard - Joint Meeting with the Board of Education - Jun 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Bill Barnes and the Howard County Board of Education and county council debated budget scenarios to close roughly a $14 million gap between the school system’s maintenance request and the county’s final funding offer, focusing on staff reductions, program changes and one‑time fund balance use with a June budget deadline looming.","taxTitle","Howard County, Maryland","taxId",13634,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6543146,"Howard County begins boundary review in West Columbia; Faulkner Ridge renovation scheduled for 2027",1912,7099000,9011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726970-947fcf33965eb021690ade4b9798fa4d&start=7099&end=9011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726970-947fcf33965eb021690ade4b9798fa4d/thumbnail_7099000.jpg","/articles/6543146/Howard-County/Maryland/Howard-County-begins-boundary-review-in-West-Columbia-Faulkner-Ridge-renovation-scheduled-for-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543146-300d39287149c8dab46fdc000c267697/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440775&Signature=eiQes4rcSzmhXrhKdXvQ~XKyrIf5QoY8i8OhAKokS2RD2h~hwSwKn0KwW1CDko7OJlGOdDEDOni~gpSw5jiF5qv2uqhBRdjvrc-CFfom8DvlHKyNmNz2uJcL3K4x0w32tqiANSujQdZ~eyzQRKBnQZupFdtkrLCleChhTZxhxoP-NEZjzvYOTA~DumzeN5LEQYH3NY7NGoRDGKELWy8~PqvuAz5Rdw34ABooSXvcfgUsmNAbe6YwbOQTYHLhfzKkMKc0DLj0yWIDU2WJSveoG5PgnoFL3SuwNRUTGSBfeK6WlotPeYDoqq5dVB~t0Q6nDRxdxXu38gA7aof3jiZG~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Howard County school planning staff told the joint meeting of the County Council and the Board of Education that they will begin a boundary review to rebalance enrollment in several West Columbia elementary schools and their feeder patterns.

Cornell Brown, chief operating officer for the school system, said the review was initiated under Board policy 60‑10 and will focus on Bryant Woods and Centennial Lane elementary schools and the adjacent schools Running Brook, Swansfield, Longfellow and Clements Crossing. Staff said the review will consider impacts at middle and high‑school feeders, including Wild Lake Middle, Harper’s Choice Middle, Burley Manor Middle, Wild Lake High and Centennial High.

Timeline and process

Brown said staff will present redistricting options to the board in July and continue public engagement; the superintendent will make recommendations in the fall with a target for the board to vote in November so implementation work can proceed for the 2026‑27 school year.

Staff emphasized that district planners will include transportation, pupil yields from planned development and feeder patterns in scenario modeling. Tim Rogers, Office of School Planning, cited the policy’s aim of keeping feeder impacts within thresholds and said staff would consult Department of Planning and Zoning data and other stakeholders to verify housing and yield projections.

Capacity and development details cited

Staff discussed current and projected utilization at several schools. Running Brook’s attendance area was noted for potential near‑term housing development in the lakefront and for projected utilization increases; Running Brook projections in the meeting materials showed substantial growth toward full utilization in the coming decade. Clemens Crossing was described as generally within the target utilization range. Swansfield and Longfellow figures were discussed as part of scenario planning; staff said long‑term enrollment projections rely on both historical yields and planned/potential development from the county planning office.

Faulkner Ridge renovation and timing

Dan Lubley, executive director of capital planning and construction, said Faulkner Ridge is in the construction‑document phase and is planned for occupancy at the start of the 2027 school year. The renovation will focus on early‑childhood design, including classrooms aligned with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future standards for 3‑year‑olds. Lubley estimated about 12 months of construction plus additional commissioning and certification work because of the facility’s early‑learning role.

Community questions and next steps

Council members asked whether students who now walk to nearby schools could be required to ride buses after redistricting; school staff said transportation implications would be modeled and that options will be evaluated to minimize disruption. Staff confirmed the advisory group assembled for the boundary work will include DPZ representatives and other stakeholders to vet projections and scenarios.

The board and council will receive the July scenarios and may request adjustments; staff said the goal is to finalize a recommendation that allows boundary changes to be communicated in time for implementation planning.

Ending

District staff framed the process as data‑driven and iterative: projected student yields, transportation impacts and planned housing developments will inform scenarios, and the board will review community feedback before any final boundary decision.

Selected quotes

- “Per policy 60‑10, the board directed the superintendent to initiate the boundary review process,” — Cornell Brown, chief operating officer.

- “Running Brook’s attendance area includes the lakefront area of Downtown Columbia. There’s still some potential development,” — Tim Rogers, Office of School Planning.

- “Faulkner Ridge is currently in design… construction is anticipated to take about 12 months,” — Dan Lubley, executive director of Capital Planning and Construction.","Howard County staff said they will begin a policy‑guided boundary review this summer focused on Bryant Woods and Centennial Lane elementary schools and adjacent feeders to rebalance enrollment, and that Faulkner Ridge’s renovation is in construction documents for occupancy in school year 2027.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6543141,"Federal funding proposals put Howard County school programs at risk, officials say",169,8894000,9063000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726970-947fcf33965eb021690ade4b9798fa4d&start=8894&end=9063","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726970-947fcf33965eb021690ade4b9798fa4d/thumbnail_8894000.jpg","/articles/6543141/Howard-County/Maryland/Federal-funding-proposals-put-Howard-County-school-programs-at-risk-officials-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543141-f74d858656c8709cd3b18737afc97b26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440775&Signature=ldS4MradqTkpuGpLd2ZWhg2El7IpiiS4VVgwUJ9Hp3kpg2GhyN-XpOlnp4OMWwln-pekmfdCYgZQRC7iURVq946ZJzhXGPVnzGkHSDetCjGyWG7Z9kA0vXMM9wrHsBN39o9gQ34ti7QACW7UeC9lXs3tDPp1irpK3kOfC6X8MSDTFXiIL7zZY~MKCMicpdy5ZmzCMEcx8xVhQQ5Nm~B-VT3JqmaSL5G3EH2ei27JvuBlBCnuDN1DjNgWdjqS2cFBZGfkUul0F2tsJemOBV1JSgpbzCvoringIInaZPnN2ix1vua7jejLj437~8NU~0Enttkh~hOOelbFrt7ptiXcaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline Walker, chief equity and innovation officer for Howard County Public Schools, told the council and board that fiscal 2026 federal grants are covered under a continuing resolution and that the state has received preliminary allocations for most programs.

Walker and other staff warned that the administration’s FY27 federal budget proposal would shift many targeted grants into broader block grants, a change that could reduce funding available for specific teacher‑development programs (Title II), English language development services (ELD), after‑school community learning centers and other competitive programs.

“Title I has stayed relatively stable historically,” Walker said, noting the district’s Title I allocations were about $7.8 million last year and roughly $7.5 million in the current estimate. She described the administration’s proposal as “creating more block grants, which really means sending less total dollars and having it be distributed more specifically to certain areas and eliminating some of our current programming.”

Programs at risk and local effects

Officials identified several areas that could be affected if Congress adopts the administration’s approach:

- Title II (teacher development): staff said loss of about $1.5 million in combined competitive/state personnel development funding would reduce professional‑learning and coaching resources the district now uses to support teachers.

- English language development (ELD): Walker said the administration singled out language supports for consolidation; the state had not yet received final federal amounts at the time of the meeting.

- Community learning centers / after‑school programs: the district currently operates community learning center programs in about 11 schools; staff said each after‑school program typically has five to six adults on staff and provides homework help, enrichment and academic support for two‑plus hours per day.

- Community Eligibility Provision (free breakfast and lunch): staff warned the administration has proposed policy changes that could narrow universal meal eligibility in some schools and require families to submit individual applications in more places — a change district staff said would reduce participation in free‑meal programs even where need exists.

Federal aid mechanics and next steps

Walker said the district had received preliminary allocations for IDEA and other grant programs under the continuing resolution; two items — teacher development and language supports — were pending federal release at the time of the meeting. If the administration’s FY27 proposal is enacted by Congress, Walker said the district would need to identify alternate funding sources or reduce services now funded by federal grants.

Council and board members were urged to advocate with federal legislators. Walker said the district and its partners would monitor congressional activity and continue to communicate anticipated impacts to the board and public.

Selected quotes

- “We are currently in a situation with fiscal 26 being funded by the continuing resolution,” — Caroline Walker.

- “Title I has stayed relatively stable… last year we received about 7.8 and this year we're looking more at around 7.5,” — Caroline Walker.

Ending

District officials called the federal proposals an additional uncertainty on top of local funding decisions and urged advocacy and contingency planning to protect teacher development, ELD and community‑centered programs that rely on federal grant funding.","District officers told the joint meeting that fiscal 2026 federal grants are covered by a continuing resolution but that the presidential administration's FY27 proposal would consolidate or reduce several targeted education grants. Officials said Title I and IDEA funds remain relatively stable in the administration's proposal but warned t","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Howard County education leaders debate budget scenarios as June deadline nears

Howard County begins boundary review in West Columbia; Faulkner Ridge renovation scheduled for 2027

Federal funding proposals put Howard County school programs at risk, officials say