In her first major public break with the school board since she came to office as a friend of the schools, County Executive Janet S. Owens presented a $858 million operating budget proposal that excludes 19 teachers meant to support an embattled program to double the time spent on reading in middle schools.
"I have not funded the requested middle school positions," Owens told a packed council chamber during her budget address yesterday. "The simple reason is that there is no money to do so. But even if monies were available, I would still express my grave concern that our partner, the Board of Education, is moving too quickly into uncharted waters."
Schools Superintendent Carol S. Parham said she "was really surprised" by Owens' position. Owens hadn't discussed her decision with the longtime superintendent, Parham said.
Both had heard from parents who passionately oppose the program because they say an added reading period means less time for courses such as art, home economics and band.
Still, Parham and other school district officials said the middle school initiative can and will move forward without those 19 reading teachers - teachers who had also been requested and rejected a year ago before the expanded reading program was designed.
"We've got a crisis in middle schools and at some point it's got to be addressed," said school board member Michael J. McNelly. "The superintendent ... has [shown] a tremendous amount of courage in her approach."
The budget picture seemed bleak all around, particularly compared with what the school board requested. The board wanted an extra $41.8 million for new teachers, teacher raises and staff development. Instead, the board got $18.5 million.
Tight times
Times are tight, Owens explained. "I gave them every penny I could," she said Monday.
The money will cover 4 percent raises for teachers ($9.8 million), more than 90 new teaching positions for special education, enrollment growth, gifted students and class size reduction ($3 million) and more.
School district officials were trying to decipher late yesterday where dollars were lost. They will have a full accounting of what was gained and lost at today's school board meeting.
On the capital side, Owens proposed a $197 million budget. Of that, the school board will get $57.8 million; they had requested $72.2 million.
