[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6675963,"mediaKeyId","3789303-d049035e5dafde5c577df30626494c65","parentId",3789303,"title","Board adopts FY26 budgets after heated debate over gifted program, music and health staffing","audioSeconds",4912,"startMs",2139000,"endMs",7051000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789303-d049035e5dafde5c577df30626494c65&start=2139&end=7051","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789303-d049035e5dafde5c577df30626494c65/thumbnail_2139000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6675963/Maryland/Board-adopts-FY26-budgets-after-heated-debate-over-gifted-program-music-and-health-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6675963-505afd60703b7106d55c033126874ef6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457092&Signature=LA9EWGQE2NHl~yiRAeSJ1BHahAf6lIZ-G7mtEJ-EjHNAkMshHamiSQIY-9cXeVSonqWMY~8WzHpGvSrb6~RfMvm-BBU0UoLnFWadXTwkoehafIEnHYC3FONdUKD9DjA9y60NHP~1zqqWGsH4daucGxbRacWBsdhjjKt2vGJsOM-wecCNCXvBW6aT5QZD3~lUDA2Arzv4bSCKWKHSgDP0XImnxoxdqVSaJ9Dj9ZJViFiB30bbVyERXHYeQk8LHBpdSS0cafm65wuMgVOFjWDrvFk~h0QjpY6poynKTFuPo9hhkK0qyIKeAO5Dwf4ZQqmumH1AzpnYUrSyQWuqhlTFzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard County Public Schools","date","2025-06-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Howard County Board of Education voted on June 12 to adopt revised FY2026 operating and capital budgets after several hours of debate about cuts proposed in “Scenario 7” and last-minute amendments to restore programs and staff.

Superintendent Barnes proposed an amended version of Scenario 7 that reduced the planned elimination of health assistant positions from 33.5 to 10, reduced the number of new float nurses from two to one, removed the proposed addition of 13 athletic trainers and reduced a $500,000 allocation tied to collaborative time. The board approved that amendment 6–1 (Yes: Miss Mallow, Miss Ricks, Miss Watts, Dr. Chen, Miss Chamblee, Miss Mosley; No: Miss McCoy). Superintendent Barnes said the amendment was intended to “continue to ensure the proper health coverage in each school building” while aligning staff roles to a coaching/teacher model and to offset costs by shifting an earlier $500,000 line item.

Why it matters: The discussion centered on how to preserve existing services while creating coaching roles and addressing rising personnel costs. Board members, staff and public speakers pressed the board for detail on which positions would be cut, how many full‑time equivalents (FTE) each change represented and whether one‑time fund balances would be used to preserve programming.

Key votes and amendments

- Superintendent’s amendment to Scenario 7 (reduce health assistant reductions to 10 FTE; reduce new float nurses from 2 to 1; remove 13 athletic trainers; adjust $500,000): Passed 6–1.
- Motion to restore elementary gifted-and‑talented (GT) funding (restore $3,489,000 and 39 FTE, funded from general fund balance): Failed 3–4 (Yes: Miss Ricks, Miss McCoy, Dr. Chen; No: Miss Mallow, Miss Watts, Miss Chamblee, Miss Mosley).
- Motion to restore third‑grade strings (restore $1,073,538 and 12 FTE, funded from general fund balance): Failed 3–4 (Yes: Miss Ricks, Mr. Basiolo, Dr. Chen; No: Miss Mallow, Miss Watts, Miss McCoy, Miss Chamblee; Miss Mosley voted yes earlier but on that motion outcome read as 3–4 in transcript).
- Motion to add two student engagement liaisons (2 FTE, $143,008, funded from general fund balance): Passed 4–3 (Yes: Miss Ricks, Miss McCoy, Dr. Chen, Miss Chamblee; No: Miss Mallow, Miss Watts, Miss Mosley).

Final budget approvals

After the amendment votes the board approved the Board of Education’s revised FY2026 operating budget (the version the board sent to the county for supplemental appropriation) and the capital documents later in the evening. The transcript records the board adopting the revised BOE FY2026 operating budget and related capital plans during the meeting (motions and tallies are in the votes-at-a-glance section below).

What board members and public said

- Concerns about equity and instructional impact dominated public comment. Parents and community members who spoke during public forum urged the board to use fund balances to avoid cutting teachers and programs, including gifted services and music. One parent said the proposed cuts “will lessen the number of years of instruction available to the 68% of students who participate” in instrumental music and urged the board to preserve strings.

- Board member Miss McCoy pressed staff on the feasibility of migrating part‑time athletic trainers into full‑time positions and repeatedly raised concerns about releasing 39 GT teachers “without a plan.” She said she did “not want to let 39 teachers go without a plan.”

- Board member Dr. Chen said restructuring was appropriate in some cases but acknowledged the risk: “Anytime you reduce half of a program, there are impacts to student outcomes.”

Numbers and clarifying details (recorded in meeting)

- FY24 ending general fund balance (reported): $7,600,000.
- Projected ending general fund balance for FY25 (latest estimate in meeting): $6,900,000.
- The board’s requested budget used $9,000,000 in one‑time funds (including $7,000,000 from the technology fund and $2,000,000 in interest income); Scenario 7 added roughly $8,500,000 in one‑time funds, creating a potential total near $17.5M; an additional amendment would have raised the one‑time use to ~ $20.9M (figures presented by staff during the meeting).
- The superintendent proposed adding back 10 health assistants (net reduction of 9 positions compared with earlier Scenario 7) and 1 floating nurse instead of 2, and removing the 13 athletic trainer additions.

What’s next

The capital budget process continues: staff will return to the board in July with pre‑development work and the superintendent’s FY2027 capital recommendation in August; state submissions to the Interagency Commission on School Construction are timed for October. The board requested further detail from staff about staffing transitions and the operational plan for migrating coaching positions to teacher/coach models.

Ending

The budget votes closed a contentious budget season in which board members and community speakers sparred over priorities and the use of one‑time fund balances to preserve programming. The board approved targeted restorations (two student engagement liaisons) but declined other restorations sought by parents and some board members.

Votes at a glance

- Superintendent’s amendment to Scenario 7 (health assistants reduced from 33.5 to 10; float nurses 2→1; remove 13 athletic trainers; remove $500,000 allocation): Passed 6–1.
- Restore GT (39 FTE / $3,489,000 from general fund): Failed 3–4.
- Restore third‑grade strings (12 FTE / $1,073,538 from general fund): Failed 3–4.
- Add 2 student engagement liaisons (2 FTE / $143,008 from general fund): Passed 4–3.
- BOE revised FY2026 operating budget (final motions during meeting to submit to county for supplemental appropriation and categorical transfer): Approved (final tally recorded in the transcript as Motion carries 5–1–1 after reconciling county submission language).
- Tuition rates (in‑state, out‑of‑state and special education tuition lines): Approved 7–0.
- FY2026 capital budget: Approved 7–0.
- FY2027–2031 Capital Improvement Program: Approved 7–0.
- FY2026–2035 Long‑Range Master Plan: Approved 7–0.

Speakers (selected and attributable)

- Superintendent Barnes — Superintendent, Howard County Public Schools (presenter of amended Scenario 7 and budget recommendation).
- Miss Ricks — Board member (moved several amendments including restoration of GT and strings).
- Miss McCoy — Board member (raised repeated concern about immediate cuts to GT staff and staffing transitions).
- Dr. Chen — Board member (commented on program impacts and restructuring risks).
- Miss Mallow, Miss Watts, Miss Chamblee, Miss Mosley, Mr. Basiolo — Board members who participated in votes and discussion.
- Ryan Powers, Anthony Dibella, Lisa Garrity and other public forum speakers — parents and community members urging preservation of programs and use of fund balance.

Topics: budget, staffing, gifted-and‑talented, music education, health services, one‑time funds, capital planning","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard County Public Schools - 4 & 7 p.m. Meeting of the Board of Education of Howard County Jun 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Howard County Board of Education adopted a revised FY2026 operating budget and related capital plans on June 12 after hours of debate about cuts included in Scenario 7. The board accepted Superintendent Barnes’ amended Scenario 7 but rejected motions to restore 39 gifted‑and‑talented positions and to preserve third‑grade strings; it did approve adding two student engagement liaisons.","taxTitle","Howard County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",17367,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6675948,"Board ratifies labor agreements, adopts health and transportation policy changes and approves 2026–27 calendar",3526,11126000,14652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789303-d049035e5dafde5c577df30626494c65&start=11126&end=14652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789303-d049035e5dafde5c577df30626494c65/thumbnail_11126000.jpg","/articles/6675948/Maryland/Board-ratifies-labor-agreements-adopts-health-and-transportation-policy-changes-and-approves-202627-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6675948-d0443c8bf84d2000db4d7c10b42ed631/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457092&Signature=Abjcp7oQ50upA9K6Wpi5PMRABKDwhwpfS3fI6w~CwFzESC1eRlV-8lTCctc6YpzSbXXUjd4W46lPyXO-I9l9jetWec7qO0iefH3IM5qUK5fqihxwDOKcjU9Hkk26VykUjyZW1stpTPzw7REce-1klIpbDWvjQwR5OwKVyLyqhyq~RDNyI6k~~ORDqHAYl9khsz5~1G6p4rRnBwbLE3mGxGkULEsW8V9Fx9UoHiwDOgZewMwwz~kCI4hQ904L-N~R0fxsuZIbp2KK0~aPVEH0lDoASI1rSA~lgL~5N741v1XGUSAZaDlceqMS2ChlujhGM3NJplWGAzNAE2MYZAENug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Howard County Board of Education approved a package of labor agreements, policy updates and the 2026–27 school calendar during its June 12 meeting.

Labor contract ratifications

The board voted to ratify negotiated agreements covering multiple employee groups:

- Howard County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (MASA certificated supervisors): approved (motion carried unanimously 7–0).
- MASA non‑certificated supervisory agreement: approved 7–0.
- Howard County Education Association (HCEA) certificated agreement (multi‑year tentative agreement covering FY2026–FY2028): ratified 7–0.
- HCEA educational support professionals (ESP): ratified 7–0.

Board members noted the agreements were negotiated in good faith and ratified by membership before board approval.

Policy and administrative actions

- Policy 5‑100, Health Services: Board approved minor updates to align policy language with legal and regulatory mandates; the board adopted the policy “effective immediately” by an 8–0 vote.

- Policy 5‑200, Student Transportation: The board approved the recommended changes to student transportation policy (staff requested an effective date of July 1, 2025). The motion passed 7–1 (Miss Mosley was recorded as voting no).

Calendar adoption

After discussion and a narrow amendment to preserve an earlier end date structure, the board approved the 2026–27 school year calendar as presented by staff with the amendment that the last day of school would be June 8, 2027 and June 9–11 would be held as inclement weather days; the final calendar passed after amendment (final tally recorded 7–0 with one abstention on final approval).

Why it matters: Ratified labor agreements set compensation and working conditions for multiple staff groups for the coming years; transportation and health policy updates affect daily operations; calendar changes alter instructional timing for students and families.

Speakers and notes

- J. Stephen Coles, Board legal counsel, advised the board about legal constraints on closing school days specifically for religious holidays (guidance discussed during a separate calendar conversation earlier in the meeting).
- Brian Bassett (calendar committee chair) and school calendar committee members presented the proposed 2026–27 calendar and described committee input.

Next steps

Staff will implement the contract terms and post updated policy language on the district website. Calendar materials will be shared with families and schools; transportation policy changes take effect July 1, 2025 per staff guidance.

Ending

The agenda items removed uncertainty about multi‑year labor contracts and established policy and calendar parameters for next school year.","The Board of Education ratified multiple collective bargaining agreements, adopted updates to health and transportation policies and approved the 2026–27 school year calendar (as amended). Several policies and labor contracts passed unanimously; the student transportation policy was approved 7–1.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6675954,"HCPSS presents Educational Facilities Master Plan, projects capacity shifts and maintenance priorities",280,5163000,5443000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789303-d049035e5dafde5c577df30626494c65&start=5163&end=5443","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789303-d049035e5dafde5c577df30626494c65/thumbnail_5163000.jpg","/articles/6675954/Maryland/HCPSS-presents-Educational-Facilities-Master-Plan-projects-capacity-shifts-and-maintenance-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6675954-deef64fe690020f55f81a84ee2691f06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457092&Signature=Cr7s91Rj7qKf3ARlCig51Th78PvnCPVSKPMKO2gG4U3Y1xGZml1osHcCOSw1KfdQCcGckEdk~PAfLK9phHBdZbYvqQQSb3il45ZiVzTs951EG7~vPchPq2lLsQuaUdi~qMdDCoao0D4LMhKHBsw8ZhKOCkCmSVzm1C3fw-idTKoteh5DGLzH5W4z8h1X1kROqFIkausrribOGIPu~PGL5RIhYKwmVP8NRNaqnZMVu59XtLoDInYAjHb9nk3AX84txF-0rn8kmZ2~buNM4Pt2FT5naWl4hdopvltqx5w9tmUo8CeQoCsW3ZYO58FKDdCN-WKe5zLGcb4-w1Vy5XceJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Howard County Public Schools staff presented the district’s annual Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) and the separate Comprehensive Maintenance Plan at the June 12 board meeting, summarizing enrollment projections, facility prioritization scoring and maintenance investment needs.

Lede / nut graf: The EFMP, required annually by Maryland law, projects K–12 enrollment of about 55,631 for 2025–26 and shows a continuing countywide downward trend driven by lower birth rates and reduced housing turnover. That decline coexists with localized growth: staff reported 31 schools expected to increase enrollment next year and several elementary and middle schools projected above 110% utilization. The district recommended a new elementary in the southeast and targeted enrollment balancing and capital projects to address hotspots.

Major findings and recommendations

- Enrollment projection: staff used cohort survival methodology supplemented by birth and housing data; the projection for school year 2025–26 is 55,631 students, down from pre‑pandemic forecasts. The report notes past projections overestimated enrollment by small margins and that projections in recent years have been more accurate.

- Capacity pressure: Several elementary and middle schools in the southeast cluster (Bowman Bridge, Hammond, Appleton, Bryant Woods and Centennial Lane) are identified for enrollment balancing; Bryant Woods and Centennial Lane were highlighted as exceeding 110% next year.

- Recommended capital actions: construct a new elementary school in the southeast (Elementary #43 in staff materials), continue the Faulkner Ridge early childhood center (260 pre‑K seats) and align middle‑school balancing with Oakland Mills and Dunloggin capital projects. Staff also presented a prioritized list of facility needs using an objective scoring model that weights facility condition and utilization.

- Capital process and timeline: staff will return in July with predevelopment work and present the superintendent’s FY2027 capital recommendation in August. State‑eligible projects will be forwarded for Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) consideration in October; non‑state projects follow in the fall board process.

Comprehensive Maintenance Plan (CMP)

The district’s CMP—also required by state regulation—lays out scheduled repairs and replacements based on industry lifecycles and manufacturer guidance. Facilities staff said they are using an asset management system (Asset Essentials) to track work orders, lifecycle data and staffing metrics. The CMP will be submitted to the IAC once approved by the board.

Why it matters: The EFMP and CMP drive long‑term capital budgeting and maintenance priorities. The district flagged that even with declining countywide enrollment, localized growth requires new seats and rebalancing; maintenance investment keeps systems operating and reduces unplanned failures that disrupt instruction.

Speakers and presenters

- Tim Rogers — Manager of School Planning (presented projections and enrollment methodology).
- Dan Lubley — Executive Director of Capital Planning and Construction (presented facility prioritization and project list).
- Herb Savjei — Executive Director of Building Maintenance and Facilities Operations (presented CMP and maintenance data approach).

Next steps

Staff will finalize the EFMP for the formal IAC submission and bring predevelopment recommendations to the board in July, followed by the superintendent’s FY2027 capital request in August and the state submission in October. The CMP will be finalized and submitted after board approval so the IAC can include it in statewide maintenance benchmarking.

Ending

The board received the two documents as required and staff will proceed with capital predevelopment and the state submittal schedule.

Speakers quoted in this article were those appearing in the facilities presentation; the board did not take a formal vote on the EFMP or CMP during this session.","Howard County Public Schools presented its annual Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) and Comprehensive Maintenance Plan, showing continued enrollment decline countywide but localized school growth; the plans prioritize new elementary capacity in the southeast and outline capital and maintenance schedules for state submission.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts FY26 budgets after heated debate over gifted program, music and health staffing

Board ratifies labor agreements, adopts health and transportation policy changes and approves 2026–27 calendar

HCPSS presents Educational Facilities Master Plan, projects capacity shifts and maintenance priorities