A $141 million budget proposal preoccupied with growing enrollment is on its way to the Carroll County commissioners after being approved by the Board of Education last night at a public hearing at Westminster Elementary School.
But after strong lobbying from several teachers, administrators and parents, board members took a stand in the fiscal 1996 proposal and added more teaching positions than Superintendent Brian Lockard originally sought.
"We're asking for a lot," said board member Carolyn L. Scott. "If we go to the commissioners with this budget or a larger one, we'll need your support and the commissioners will need your support if they have to do some things to reach this funding level."
At 9:30 p.m., the meeting was still in session, and members were adding to Dr. Lockard's $141 million proposal, up about 8 percent over the current year's budget of $130 million.
"I think this is going to be a difficult year" with a new board of commissioners, said board Vice President Joseph D. Mish Jr.
Parent leader Carolyn MacKenzie of Manchester urged the board not to overlook current needs while aggressively keeping up with growth.
"I would also like to see an aggressive approach toward improvement in our schools," she said.
Last night and at two previous hearings, several teachers, administrators and parents asked for additional positions to improve schools.
Dr. Lockard added a few more positions since the first two hearings. The increases are still due mostly to growth.
The schools expect an additional 728 students next year, and 4,180 more students by the year 2000. The budget calls for an additional 46.2 instructional positions, 22.7 special education positions and 21 other positions just to keep up with next year's growth.
Also, while costs and enrollments are rising, state contributions for Social Security tax, buses and special education either are dropping or staying the same.
But Dr. Lockard included some positions for improvement, such as seven middle school teachers to help reduce the average class size from 27 to 25; and about four teachers for reducing class size in primary grades.
Dr. Lockard originally planned for five teachers this year and five next to give each elementary school a half-time computer teacher who would help students and other teachers with technology. Because these teachers would spend some time working with students, it would also give classroom teachers the extra planning time they have been asking for.
But the school board decided to add all 10 technology resource teachers next year instead of phasing them in over two years.
The board also agreed to add some additional teachers to address increasing discipline and behavior concerns, as well as three teachers for schools that have the additional burdens of regional special education centers.
Carrolltowne Elementary School teacher Kenneth Bakewell was among those who supported those extra teaching positions.
"We're working with a changing population, and the needs of this population are very demanding," he said.
After requests from principals of the two smallest schools, the board decided to add teaching assistant principals to Charles Carroll and Elmer Wolfe elementary schools.