The Board of Education finalized and approved the school system’s 2019-2020 budget at a special meeting held on Thursday May 30, 2019. During their Work Session, the Board made the necessary $1.4 million in cuts from the original budget request. “This budget reflects our commitment to the Bridge of Excellence Master Plan, to the 2020 Vision Strategic Plan, and to the children of Talbot County,” said Dr. Kelly L. Griffith, Superintendent.
The total Operating Budget for the school district for the 2019-2020 school year will be $57,182,066. This represents an overall increase in operating revenues in the general unrestricted budget of 4.8% or $2.6 million. “This increase will help us to meet the needs of each student attending the Talbot County Public School system by providing salary increases, additional staffing support, and the ability to offset increases in fixed charges,” added Dr. Griffith. “We are grateful to the County Council for securing additional revenue sources to provide funding above maintenance of effort in the category of non-recurring costs as well as funding for the Easton Elementary School construction project,” Dr. Griffith added.
Through the budget development process, each school principal and department supervisor justified every dollar requested. This process enabled the Superintendent, the Board of Education, and the general public to closely examine priorities. After a thorough evaluation of state and federal mandates, including the continued implementation for the State of Maryland’s College and Career Ready Standards, the Board chose to include some additional staffing and resources in the budget request to support these mandates.
The final FY 20 budget will maintain everything in the FY19 budget plus the following approved additional items:
- Salary increases for all staff of one step and 1.75% Cost of Living AdjustmentAdditional Staffing Positions:
2 English Language Learner Teachers
1 Gifted and Talented Teacher
1 Special Education
2.5 Classroom Teachers4 Instructional Assistants
- Increases in Employee Benefit costs including a 4% increase in health insurance
- Increases in overall insurance of organization, Special Education Services, and Judy Center
- Renewal of Software licenses, additional funding for Curriculum/Environmental field trips and Extended Day Programs
- One additional school bus lease
- Mowers
- $409,170 capital requests
- Easton Elementary School Replacement Project
The following items from the original request were not included in the final version:
- Four Teaching positions, two IA positions, and Grant Manager
- Summer School
- New Technology requests
- Additional athletic requests
- Additional requests for office supplies
- Additional funding for professional development and stipends
- $389,130 deferred maintenance/capital item requests
“We appreciate the community support, the educational partnerships, and the overall commitment of staff during the budget process. Together we will address the challenges for higher academic standards and create essential conditions for learning to ensure each child will graduate college and career ready,” said Dr. Griffith.
To review the entire budget and for other information about Talbot County Public Schools, visit www.talbotschools.org
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