Howard County's Board of Education adopted operating and capital budgets totalling $843.8 million this week, but two school board members decided to oppose most of the $776.3 million operating budget in what one called a vote of conscience.
Board members Bess Altwerger and Cindy Vaillancourt voted against most components of the operating budget, including salaries and special education costs, at a board legislative session.
The operating budget, which was supported in its entirety by the other five school board members, provides $3.1 million to hire more than 100 new educators as enrollment continues to rise. It also includes $11.3 million in raises for teachers negotiated as part of last year's contract. Teachers received a half-step increase last year and will get a lump sum payment equal to another half-step when the new fiscal year starts July 1.
The budget avoids furloughs or layoffs, unlike some neighboring jurisdictions. Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Gregory Thornton announced this week that the school system would be laying off 159 staff members.
But Altwerger said she had concerns about rising class sizes, shrinking numbers of paraeducators and media specialists, discontent among some parents about special education programs and a lack of funds set aside for teacher pay raises this year as the school system continues its negotiations with the teachers' union.
According to the school system, middle and high school classes will be increasing by one student next year, up to 21 for middle school classes and 20 for high school classes. Elementary school class sizes will remain the same.
"After deep reflection, I have decided to vote against the budget in accordance with my own conscience and best judgment, and in response to the public comments and testimonies coming from educators, parents and community members who believe that this budget does not reflect the priorities that have kept our schools among the best in the state and the nation," Altwerger said, reading from a prepared statement.
Vaillancourt called the budget's priorities "misplaced.
"I am really hoping that in the event that additional money is freed up in the course of the year that it will go toward the kinds of things that the people of Howard County elected us to make sure were maintained – small class sizes, respected and compensated teachers, a special education department that saves us money in the long run and saves lives and changes the trajectory of some of these students' lives," she said. 'There just really are not enough words for what I see is the systematic dismantling of this school system."
In a statement, Howard County Education Association President Paul Lemle said educators "appreciate the support of Bess Altwerger and Cindy Vaillancourt throughout this process. They've understood from the beginning that students and teachers were not prioritized in this budget."
The teachers' union and school system have not yet reached an agreement on contracts for next fiscal year; earlier this month, the two groups declared an impasse. The school system's operating budget did not set aside new money for step or cost of living increases next year.
Other school board members defended the operating budget as a success in a lean fiscal year.
The school system's operating budget was funded at $5.7 million above maintenance of effort levels -- the minimum requirement for funding -- this year. The county provided $544.1 million, $3 million above its maintenance of effort commitment.
"I think this budget reflects the majority of our needs for this county," said School Board Chairwoman Janet Siddiqui. "We always want more. It's difficult financial times."
Siddiqui said the additional money from the state and county helped save several community liaison positions, including liaisons to the Hispanic and Burmese communities.
"You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, and right now we don't have any money," said Vice Chairwoman Ann De Lacy.
School board members Ellen Flynn Giles and Sandra French said they were worried about upcoming pressures on the budget, including the school system's obligation to take on full responsibility for funding pensions without state aid next fiscal year.
"Everybody assumes that things are going to be hunky dory down the road and the state is going to keep paying, and that ain't so," French said. "With the full pension burden that is coming to us in the next fiscal year we are going to be in greater straits, and so to keep people in their jobs was a major landmark today in this budget, I think."
"We're going to do the best with what we have," Giles said. "We have the best people and the best system, and I think we have the best heart."
Board member Christine O'Connor, whose two children attend Howard County Public Schools, said she had "full trust" in the budget.
"I look forward to another great school year," O'Connor said.
This year's operating budget grew by about $17.6 million over fiscal 2015. Last year, County Executive Ken Ulman decided to award the school system $17 million more in funds than Howard County Public School System Superintendent Renee Foose had requested; this year the budget came in at about $4.5 million under Foose's initial proposal in January.
The budget reflects a squeeze at both the state and county levels. HCPSS is getting $3 million less than anticipated from the state after Gov. Larry Hogan announced he would be spending money set aside by the legislature for an education funding formula on pensions instead. Kittleman's budget decreases county borrowing by $24 million, after the county's spending affordability committee warned of rising interest rates -- though he has pointed out that about two-thirds of the county's new revenue is headed to the school system.
The board also approved a $67.5 million capital budget Wednesday. The budget begins to fund a new elementary school for the eastern county, as well as a replacement building for Wilde Lake Middle School and renovations at Waverly Elementary School and Patuxent Valley Middle School.