Board of Education Approves FY 2014 Budget Request; Discusses Results of Gallup Engagement Surveys and Sets Summer School Fees

February 26, 2013

The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Monday, February 25, 2013, at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Among other items, the Board approved a Fiscal Year 2014 Operating Budget request for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); received an update on the results of the 2012 Gallup Engagement Surveys and approved summer school fees for Fiscal Year 2014.

FY 2014 Operating Budget Request
The Board of Education approved a $2.23 billion Operating Budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. The Board’s request represents a 2.65 percent increase over this year, and will allow the district to focus on managing growth, narrow achievement gaps, and invest in the future of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and its students. The request is less than 0.7 percent above the funding floor required by state law.

The Board’s budget request represents a $57.5 million increase over the current FY 2013 budget, and the majority of that increase will allow the district to serve an additional 2,300 students next school year. The budget also calls for investing in key areas, such as mathematics instruction, middle schools, professional learning for staff and the strategic restoration of positions that have been eliminated over the past several years.

The Board will submit its budget request to the Montgomery County Executive and the County Council on March 1. County Executive Isiah Leggett is expected to release his FY 2014 Operating Budget recommendation on March 15. The County Council will hold public hearings prior to approving a final MCPS budget in May.

Press Release

Gallup Engagement Survey
The Board received an update and held a discussion on the results of the 2012 Q12 Engagement Survey for all MCPS employees and the Gallup Student Poll for students in Grades 5–12. The results of the surveys will guide the school system in its efforts to improve teaching and learning in every school. Based on more than four decades of research, Gallup has identified definitive employee attitudes that correspond with the most successful workplaces. Additionally, Gallup has identified the questions that measure these attitudes and studied the links between employees’ responses and various school outcomes, including employee retention, parent engagement, student retention, and student achievement.

The Gallup Student Poll tracks the hope, engagement, and well-being of students. Research supports the idea that hope, engagement, and well-being are actionable targets linked to student achievement, retention and future employment.

The survey results for all schools will be posted on the MCPS website in the coming weeks.

Read the Board Item

Fiscal Year 2014 Summer School Fees
The Board of Education voted to maintain all full and reduced summer school fees at the same level as FY 2013, with no increases. The Summer School Revenue-based Program full fees remain at $335 for elementary courses, $300 for high school core courses, and $310 for high school non-core courses, including student online learning. Reduced fees will remain at $85 or $120, depending on family income.

MCPS will provide Summer School programs for intervention, enrichment and acceleration of academic instruction for MCPS students through four elementary regional centers, four high school regional centers, and local school programs. The Summer School Program is an integral part of the MCPS strategic plan, Our Call to Action: Pursuit of Excellence and provides the necessary flexibility for schools to develop summer programs to address the needs of students in their local school or cluster.

Read the Board Item

Brickyard Road Middle School Site
In order to clarify the status of the Brickyard Road site, the Board passed a resolution declaring Resolution 138-11 to be of no force and effect. On February 19, 2013, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett notified the Board of Education that he is relinquishing the County’s lease on the Brickyard Road School site (as was permitted by Resolution 138-11), as the County no longer intends to develop the property for recreational purposes. The Board voted to cancel its lease with Montgomery County at a special meeting on February 19, meaning there is no active lease for the property. The property is now in the possession of the Board of Education and remains a future school site.

Read the Board Item

Administrative Appointment

The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointment:

- Jack O. Dodson, Jr., currently fiscal specialist, Department of Transportation, as assistant controller, Division of Controller.

Other Action: The Board also took action on several items, including:

-Approved contracts for the Waters Landing Elementary School Addition.

Resolutions: The Board unanimously approved the following:

- A resolution recognizing the month of March 2013 as Women’s History Month

- A resolution recognizing MCPS educators who earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2012.

About the Board of Education

The Montgomery County Board of Education is the official educational policymaking body in the county. The Board is responsible for the direction and operation of the public school system. The Board consists of seven county residents elected by voters for a four-year term and a student elected by secondary school students for a one-year term. Board members are elected countywide but run at-large or from the Board district in which they reside.

Montgomery County Board of Education: Mr. Christopher Barclay, president; Mr. Philip Kauffman, vice president. Members: Ms. Shirley Brandman, Dr. Judy Docca, Mr. Michael Durso, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. John Mannes, student member. Dr. Joshua P. Starr, superintendent and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.

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