They've each worked for years to improve aspects of education in Baltimore. New Leaders for New Schools trains principals. The Child First Authority runs after-school programs. The Maryland Charter School Network represents independently run public schools.
Now, more than 20 advocacy groups have banded together - calling themselves the Baltimore Education Coalition - to protest possible state funding cuts to city schools. The money that schools will receive as part of the federal stimulus package signed this week by President Obama isn't good enough for them. They want Gov. Martin O'Malley to withdraw proposed changes in education-funding formulas that would disproportionately hurt Baltimore and Prince George's County. And they're angry that lawmakers from Baltimore aren't fighting harder against the proposals, which would go to the General Assembly for a vote.
"We are being told the usual politician statement: 'Baltimore, be quiet. We'll handle it,' " said Bishop Douglas I. Miles, co-chairman of the advocacy group Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (BUILD). "It's not happening."
While the changes in funding formulas are still on the table, the coalition is planning a rally for March 3 in Annapolis and has pledged to bring out as many as 3,000 participants, mostly parents and children. In addition, it is sending representatives to lobby at the State House every Monday.
O'Malley says the $1.1 billion that Maryland is due to receive for education from the stimulus during the next two years will offset any cuts. Baltimore alone will get at least $70 million. But asked if he plans to withdraw his formula proposals, O'Malley said, "I can't answer that question intelligently." He quickly corrected himself, saying he meant "informatively."
"I try to be intelligent," he said.
While the stimulus provides a one-time infusion of money, any formula changes would become state law and continue into the future, unless the law were changed again. Baltimore schools chief Andres Alonso has said the changes O'Malley proposed would leave his system with a shortfall every year, and he can't pay teachers and other employees with a funding stream that's going to dry up.
Amid the news that Maryland's general fund revenues in January were down by 8 percent from January 2008, O'Malley administration officials said they need to make sure the state can afford its commitments over time. The governor's staff is going through the fine print of the stimulus package to figure out how much flexibility states have. O'Malley said preserving education funding is his No. 2 priority, behind saving the jobs of 700 state workers facing the prospect of layoffs.
