Queen Anne’s County Public Schools provides a wide array of benefits to the residents of Queen Anne’s County. In addition to the educational services provided to the students of the county, the expenditures of our school system provide a significant economic impact in our county and region. According to an economic impact analysis prepared by BEACON at Salisbury University, the return on investment of the Queen Anne’s County public school system was approximately 20.0% for 2011. This represents the local economic impact as compared to taxpayer investment. The return on investment for the county’s investment (which is the total economic impact compared to local funding) was approximately 118%. This means that for every $1.00 spent and retained in the county from the public school system’s operating budget there is an additional $1.18 of spending in the county.
Over the past 10 years the county’s wealth on a per pupil basis has increased and the county’s rank in the state has moved from 8th wealthiest to 6th wealthiest. During that same period of time, our cost per pupil went from ranking 13th in the state to ranking between 22nd and 24th out of 24, for the last four years. Also during that same period of time, our students’ academic performance has moved from the ranking of 13th in the state to being consistently ranked in the top quarter of the state. Our staff continues to provide the best program possible for students and our resources have been focused to that end over anything else. As demonstrated in the previous paragraph, Queen Anne’s County Schools provides a very high return on investment.
Like your employees, our employees have also suffered a loss in pay over the last several years. The last step our employees received was three years ago. That step was split over a two year period. Employees have had no COLA for the last three years. Additionally, like county employees, they had to absorb another 2% of their pension costs beginning last year. We respectfully request funding for a 1% COLA ($525,000) and 1 step ($925,000). The step only accommodates 70% of our staff. By providing the 1% COLA, all of our employees would receive some additional compensation this year. We recognize this does increase our Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and will be a continued cost.
We also have significant needs that will not affect MOE. One area we have previously discussed with you is the need to replace buses, some of which are already 13 and 14 years old. They have been extended past the 12 year state requirement, and for 6 of these buses we only have one more year we can request an extension. After that the buses must go out of service. Of course, maintenance costs on these vehicles are significant. Outlined below are our costs for new vehicles.
County-Owned Buses
Last, but certainly not least, is our need for updated and increased technology. Again, this is something we have discussed with you in past meetings. We have attached to this letter a request which reflects our most urgent technology needs. Please note the age of the computers we need to replace; many are not able to run the software programs needed for student instruction and interventions. The total cost of the technology request is $1.1 million.
We recognize you may not always have these dollars available and that you had some unanticipated income tax and recordation tax revenues. We have talked with you regarding our needs on a regular basis and believe you understand that we have cut our costs significantly over the last 5 years. We have lost valuable staff and programs and desperately need to support what remains. We are asking that you allocate $3.4million of your $5 million fund balance to support the children and staff of your school system. In advance, thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Carol A. Williamson, Ed. D.
Superintendent
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