Public Haring on the FY 2000 Operating Budget Spending Affordability Guidelines
Presented by Nancy J. King, President
Before the Montgomery County Council
October 13, 1998
Good evening, Mr. Leggett and members of the County Council. I am Nancy King, President of the Montgomery County Board of Education. I am testifying on behalf of the Board on the proposed operating budget spending affordability guidelines for Fiscal Year 2000. The Board asks you to set guidelines that will enhance the quality of public education in Montgomery County, now and for the future.
Last year, in the development of the current budget, members of the Council worked closely with the Board of Education to adopt a budget that included unprecedented improvements focused on the classroom. The initiatives to reduce class size in a targeted way to improve the teaching of reading and mathematics have drawn national attention and helped to renew our reputation as a national leader in education. Just recently, the U. S. Department of Education recognized our efforts with two multi-million dollar grants for our innovative signature schools and for teacher development in technology.
These improvements were possible not only because of the dedication of MCPS staff, but because the County Council saw that we needed resources above the Maintenance of Effort level. For FY 1999, the Council approved a budget $28.6 million above the original spending affordability guideline. This made possible the crucial initiatives that have enabled us to continue to improve educational quality. The Council recognized our efforts to make economies in non-instructional costs, to guarantee' , accountability for results, and to build a new collaborative relationship with employees and parents as embodied in the Quality Management Councils.
For FY 2000, the Board is confident that the cooperative spirit we have demonstrated in the past will again guarantee success. We must continue the multiyear initiatives begun last year to assure the community that every child will be able to read independently and on grade level by the beginning of third grade and that every student will successfully complete Algebra I by Grade 9. But we also will need additional funding for our constantly growing enrollment, start-up costs for another four new schools, the demands of special education, the costs of negotiated agreements with employees, and increases for such items as health care, utilities, technology, textbooks, and instructional supplies and materials. These funding requirements are in addition to the growing needs for improved classroom environmental quality and school safety.
These needs are great, and we know that you must balance them against other important goals. But I am confident that, given your consistent support for better schools, we will develop a budget that meets the needs of our citizens for a quality school system.
Thank you for this opportunity to participate in this public hearing. I welcome your questions.