The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County adopted its final fiscal year 2025 operating and capital budgets during a meeting in Annapolis Tuesday evening.
The $1.69 billion operating budget, whichthe council passedJune 14, was approved by the school board 6 to 1, with the sole no vote coming from Corrine Frank, of District 3. The capital budget of $184.4 million was approved unanimously.
The capital budget is for construction and renovations while the operating budget includes salaries and school services.
“We are in far better shape than some of the other school districts around the state and that is a testament to the teamwork that exists here in Anne Arundel County. This is a budget that moves us forward and will help us help every one of our students belong, grow and succeed, said Superintendent Mark Bedell.”
The council voted to reallocate more than $3 million that would have gone to the New Village Academy following the news that the school’s opening has been delayed to 2025.
The charter high school, originally planned to open this fall in the former Nordstrom space at the Westfield Annapolis Mall, will delay its opening to fall 2025 after being unable to finalize a lease.
“Those funds will allow us to attack larger class sizes by hiring additional teachers as well as support class coverage by teachers who lose planning periods because of staffing issues or illness,” Bedell said.
More than $2.1 million will go toward pay increases for teachers who lose planning time while filling in for other teachers, which has happened more frequently since the pandemic, said Matt Stanski, chief financial officer for the school system.
The plan will also provide 93 positions to staff the new Two Rivers Elementary and Severn Run High schools, which are both opening in August.
“While the budget isn’t as robust as it’s been the last couple of years, looking at headlines from other jurisdictions, I’m thankful of where we find ourselves on June 18,” said Stanski.
The federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, created by the U.S. Department of Education, has has provided grants to help the county address issues caused by COVID-19. Aware that those grants are being discontinued, school officials have shifted millions of dollars over the last few years to compensate for the loss. This year, the board approved over $106 million in grant funding. Next year, year that number is down to $65 million, a difference of more than $40 million.
Michelle Corkadel, of District 7, who originally voted against the operating budget in February, voted for the budget this time despite having reservations.
“I still have concerns about special education cuts and healthcare funding, which was reduced by nearly 50%, but I do appreciate the refunding of other much needed programs,” she said.
In the new budget, $1.3 million less is being allotted for special education and county healthcare contributions for employees will decline by $7.5 million.
“As is the case with any budget, there are difficult decisions that have to be made,” said Robert Silkworth, school board president. “However, I believe that as it relates to our school system, all those involved in this process have kept our students in the forefront of their minds and provided us with funding that puts us in a better position than some other jurisdictions to help those students.”
Capital budget
The $184.4. million capital budget, which the council approved June 14, passed with just one amendment needingreview.
The council added $1.32 million to replace school buses, using a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to electrify the county’s fleet.
A large portion of thecapital budget contains construction funding for three secondary schools.
Construction of a new Center of Applied Technology – North, a new Old Mill High School and a new Old Mill Middle School North account for nearly $167 million, or 71.2%, of the capital budget.
The projects follow the completion of replacement buildings at Quarterfield and Rippling Woods elementary schools and ongoing construction of a new Old Mill Middle School South and Severn Run High School. When complete, the technology center will be on the same site as the new Old Mill High School facility in Millersville. The new Old Mill Middle School North will be built on the site of the old Center of Applied Technology – North.
The capital budget also provides $32.3 million for building systems renovations; $7 million to continue reducing the maintenance backlog; $4 million for athletic stadium improvements; and $3 million for school bus replacements. More than $1.3 million is dedicated to the design of a new school bus facility.
