[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6476293,"mediaKeyId","5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018","parentId",5730670,"title","Council committee backs PGCPS FY2025 transfer request to prepay leases, shift program funds","audioSeconds",1723,"startMs",48615,"endMs",1772000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018&start=48&end=1772","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018/thumbnail_48615.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6476293/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Council-committee-backs-PGCPS-FY2025-transfer-request-to-prepay-leases-shift-program-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476293-4ff70b6b71e9874f508ac40dd851fa2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430690&Signature=dwAEFrD6vYzlu~qVhZKZJfPOSL3LE-UsuhurmGDShfOC4-JZVukNc0jW0bipexua3b~OWJkMhlfrMLvH1Re5vSgODfoMM4uLeDtKe5U6IcEkgo7NaecYiUoyknpM8HbUXkZMmHw~fgzpk6Nx0insC0ZzyyhAkrCjnqYgy7nKArr~AQq6-YjE1pdI~3X8OFifyC3-KEwvCZtH1qi1iUFhLWz7rzTKXS431EBGsqPQO4vsLbZuz85-C85p6GoKMLdVjhxnMKVfn~IK0viWDfK1CHsOSwXVpd7nMD7VEJ15sTOqlftaZS8ZfVT7KnQAEW3Uv2OtGg3qbF5PXDGZ~0JFfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","article","Prince George's County Council’s Education & Workforce Development Committee on Sept. 8 voted 5-0 to move favorable a Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) FY2025 financial review and transfer request (TR625) that repurposes savings to cover early lease-purchase payoffs, administrative costs and other items.

PGCPS staff told the committee the district planned to repurpose $59,359,036 in FY2025 savings. The district said those savings primarily came from unspent salaries and benefits due to turnover (reported as $45,359,036), a reduction of funds set aside for an administrative building acquisition ($12,000,000) and lower-than-projected fuel costs ($2,000,000). PGCPS said $45,359,036 would be used toward early payoff of lease-purchase agreements for buses, textbooks and technology; it also said $15,000,000 would be applied to the FY2026 portion of the district’s annual contribution to other post-employment benefits (OPEB). The total operating budget was reported as remaining constant at about $2,000,000,000.903000000 (as presented in the binder).

PGCPS Director of Budget and Management Services Shavon Smith said paying lease-purchase obligations early would remove the scheduled payments from FY2026 and later budgets, yielding future savings in those years while interest still accrues during the prepayment period. Smith said the district would provide the precise estimated interest savings upon request.

Committee members questioned several line items. Council member Hawkins asked about a $1,880,000 realignment tied to preparation work for a consolidated administrative building; PGCPS staff said fees were owed to a consulting firm (Perkins and Will) for site review and related services after the purchase did not complete and that the contract and invoices could be provided. Committee members requested copies of the contract documentation.

Members also pressed on a $5.7 million reduction in “student personnel services.” PGCPS staff explained most of that reduction reflected salary lapse — positions that were budgeted but remained vacant during FY2025 — and said the district would need separate attention to address persistent recruitment and vacancy problems for high‑need roles such as speech therapists.

Transportation was a frequent subject in review questions. Committee members pressed PGCPS on bus-driver shortages and the district’s plan to buy a new student-transportation platform. PGCPS said it planned to transition to a platform referenced in the presentation as “Chipmunk” (a replacement for an older system school officials said did not allow parents to track buses reliably) and also referenced the vendor name Bus Patrol in discussion. The district reported about 100 bus-driver vacancies — roughly 100 of an estimated 250 drivers — and said a substantial FY2026 increase in transportation spending reflected a one-time implementation cost for the new software plus ongoing steps to reduce overtime and expand recruitment, including paying for CDL training for existing county staff and other employees who want to take routes.

On the transfer request, Committee Chair Orietta moved to recommend the request be approved; the committee seconded the motion and approved it on a roll call vote of 5-0 (Chair Orietta, Council member Adam Stafford, Council member Hawkins, Council member Olson and Council member Watson voting Aye). The committee record lists the item as TR625.

PGCPS staff and committee members agreed to follow up with additional documentation requested at the hearing, including (1) detailed lease-prepayment savings calculations, (2) the consulting contract(s) and invoice(s) for the administrative building work cited in the realignment, and (3) a tracker showing realized savings from bus-stop consolidation and future fuel reductions as electric buses come online.

The committee did not change the county contribution amount during this review; the transfer request was a financially neutral reallocation within the district’s approved operating budget as presented to the committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - Education and Workforce Development Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Prince George's County Council’s Education & Workforce Development Committee on Sept. 8 voted 5-0 to move favorable a financial review and transfer request from Prince George’s County Public Schools that repurposes roughly $59.36 million in FY2025 savings toward early lease-purchase payoffs, administrative expenses and other items.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6476281,"Employ Prince George’s outlines youth-employment strategy; highlights CDL recruitment challenges and mobile career lab",1870,3744720,5615090,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018&start=3744&end=5615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018/thumbnail_3744720.jpg","/articles/6476281/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Employ-Prince-Georges-outlines-youth-employment-strategy-highlights-CDL-recruitment-challenges-and-mobile-career-lab","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476281-b4fa46938d84d9004979a67ecb4c7dd9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430690&Signature=L71C4qXrA1tsfIfMQmi1MllN4wQcl8bFPv3~-by5pzBss1D5lbBTsGeTx3S59Fjyv6LgBY9RFPDzgMkHRyEiDs6deMrcIie3PyFsqxb6vQ0orPabzzILUIfabtk85cOWa6bemIHfEC2Yft9AnakPsBMyFy3cSI1DC4Xbs55fX9ZSvZtflx4hFtYProM3CIDJAv3Kmn8ecNhCdgmGm8nxSEny4MhUagHq7XNTz7dseaUfaEjbrmeXyFbAUbwmbQTEAtoCZiVhzGa6hri0WoGMVQXy0pwJNtlD4kVF-Yf1lTopw9V49PjTx5IahP08yNnbkMB9t~4o9Ne7-z7VxpAmNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Employ Prince George’s (EPG) presented its youth-employment and workforce strategies to the Education & Workforce Development Committee on Sept. 8, outlining recruitment challenges for bus drivers and a suite of in‑school and out‑of‑school programs aimed at lowering youth unemployment.

Walter (EPG) reported that PGCPS faces competition from private-sector employers when recruiting commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders. EPG shared market data to show starting wages for CDL drivers in the county were approximately $18.78 per hour (about $39,000 annually), which EPG said is roughly $6,000 below some median pay levels and puts PGCPS at a disadvantage against private contractors and higher-paying employers despite the district’s benefits package.

EPG described multiple initiatives to increase pipeline recruitment. The brief outlined partnerships that subsidize training, including a Spanish‑language integrated CDL cohort that graduated its first Spanish-speaking CDL participant last year. EPG said the county Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) has been a key partner in driving cohorts and hiring returning citizens, and the organization discussed apprenticeship and incumbent‑worker training approaches to build a “homegrown” driver pool.

On youth programming, EPG summarized in‑school and out‑of‑school strategies: 50-plus career counselors operating across 73 PGCPS middle and high schools, group and one‑on‑one career counseling, career-exposure programming, job fairs, spring and summer camps (partnering with local nonprofit providers), and a new Prince George’s County Mobile Career Exploration Lab (a mobile unit with virtual‑reality and hands‑on exhibits intended to visit multiple schools per week). EPG said it had on‑boarded career navigator services into nearly all schools last year (missing only one school) and expects to be fully embedded from the first day this year.

EPG described out‑of‑school youth services run by contracted providers (e.g., Eckerd Connects, Achieve Workforce Academy, and others) that serve 18‑ to 24‑year‑olds with intensive services limited by federal grant rules; EPG reported typical contracting minimums of roughly 60–68 youth enrolled in intensive services per provider and said performance measures require around 70% job placement at 4–6 months post-exit and a federally required 20% of funds for work‑based learning. EPG said short-term summer placements and a smaller EPG summer program exist to avoid leaving applicants without options.

Committee members raised questions about geographic disparity in youth unemployment (EPG said districts 4–7 and 9 have youth-unemployment rates above 12% and identified District 6 as a high‑need area) and educational barriers such as literacy and basic‑skills levels that can impede certification and placement. EPG cited chronic absenteeism and lower postsecondary enrollment among certain groups — notably Hispanic students and some Black students — as obstacles and suggested expanded childcare, remediation and targeted outreach as part of a broader strategy.

Committee members asked about capacity for transportation to externships/training sites and whether more coordinated districtwide scheduling could improve results; EPG said it currently pays for some field‑trip transportation (about $100,000–$150,000 a year) to support industry placements and partners with PGCPS on school-specific arrangements.

The committee did not take action on this briefing; members expressed support for continued coordination across PGCPS, the county executive’s office and workforce partners to scale apprenticeships, CDL training and mobile-lab outreach.","Employ Prince George’s presented a multi-part workforce briefing focused on youth employment programs, apprenticeship pathways and CDL recruitment for bus drivers; staff said driver pay compression versus private sector employers hampers school-district recruitment, and described a mobile career lab and in-school career navigator expansion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6476284,"County committee hears plan to expand county services inside Prince George’s library branches",975,2766900,3742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018&start=2766&end=3742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018/thumbnail_2766900.jpg","/articles/6476284/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/County-committee-hears-plan-to-expand-county-services-inside-Prince-Georges-library-branches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476284-15618b9b74c37dc5157609d7e86b2990/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430690&Signature=U8dmcmKKirVv8hdz6tvsx7JKVdr4TTotrcwV0dpy1tBsg3kfdbzs8qPqDYGfoPq3Qt6Q-mcAAR6vBTB6buWVO4ltUr3sJ9OE3P6sEGYxN0KwEwIZKhWfhnNpFx1ShU5v89gxGluSEgqzyS7ogmPdvLrzRn8TEGYil8QDFOKTExxyCXlkuDTbtikYi65fGRsKY6P79a5Ter69pRzFHYxL5R--MyRDhCb6Zj4Mf3UMl8G5iSqKC-4P8h5gWxOkZCZDWG6zif5Gaa2C5cmtfEWN-5nrzGEEs~lL-yJcaflEbrWmJcnD~dAb5NMroKxvbWL~d3N8eA-HuCkKTKuOC-WNOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George’s County Memorial Library System officials and county staff presented a proposal Sept. 8 to use library branches more extensively as sites for resident‑facing county services, pilot satellite offices and partner programming.

Director Adrian Albert and library system representatives said the proposal would bring periodic services—such as vaccination drives, permitting workshops, information sessions and job‑center outreach—closer to residents by using existing branch space and capabilities. The presentation noted branches vary in size, staffing and technology and described a planned rubric to prioritize branches that can host specific services based on door count, program attendance and circulation metrics.

Library representatives described ongoing partnerships with a range of organizations. Megan Sutherland and Dr. Winston cited recent branch programs with county agencies (the Office of Human Rights and Prince George’s County Public Schools’ infant and toddler program), state agencies (Maryland Department of Human Services and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program), academic partners such as the University of Maryland and federal partners like the Social Security Administration. The presentation also highlighted community programming with nonprofits (Priority Partners, local museums) and health demonstrations.

Committee members supported piloting services in high‑need districts and suggested options ranging from one‑day events to longer-term satellite offices in selected branches. Council members and library staff discussed data collection to measure impacts, pre-literacy and parent‑education programming to support early reading, and potential site uses such as community pantries or small grocery pilots in partnership with Parks and Planning.

Library staff said they already track usage data (door count, program attendance, circulation and digital-resource metrics) and are developing a rubric to identify which branches are best suited for which services. Staff also said the library has tested partnerships and mobile units and will coordinate scheduling and security needs with agencies before hosting services.

Council members asked library staff to coordinate pilots with the county executive’s office and Parks and Planning and suggested exploring a social‑technology lab to engage younger residents. Dr. Winston and Megan Sutherland said they would continue planning pilots, share branch‑level data, and work with county partners on next steps.

No formal committee vote was taken on the library proposal; it was presented for discussion and next-step coordination with the executive branch and other county departments.","A proposal to host resident‑facing county services and partner events in Prince George’s County Memorial Library System branches was presented to the council committee; library and county staff described pilot ideas, data-driven branch selection and existing partnerships with county agencies and nonprofits.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6476289,"Committee approves PGCPS FY2026 budget reconciliation after state-aid increase; council contribution unchanged",952,1773135,2726000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018&start=1773&end=2726","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5730670-9005ebfbf71324022a1afac1960fe018/thumbnail_1773135.jpg","/articles/6476289/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Committee-approves-PGCPS-FY2026-budget-reconciliation-after-state-aid-increase-council-contribution-unchanged","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476289-d80f24b307bbcac88f661d457bc6a78a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430690&Signature=h7gEYwRvggKBufEaSLxApMj-ZTbj0rUy538cinBnTklJkxYV5dlgAWfApknqg21kbbQUW8Uvb5-eRNqDsRW34ouEbYriCK722GkUKfNanV8M-GY0NQdOJROr5jn3k510igcc8zVXNMWm6lmjhhTE9jv6-VOFKQcuyfk8SZjHjfM3nB-xX4-1oWsLjZO8Rh8cQYZ~RkPk5~wKYOJW03NWiTVoEOxaeHOYbARy0yWtgpwtLLDPs1JuXkCvTEgmYhefymGlTuHFXuqUGMmpiJKdnaXN84wASdxpvK3OR3bjDH4fx3tK8~hGHRLbk~PAr45zY9aC3Hl4Uh1CoP6ycnkyXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education & Workforce Development Committee on Sept. 8 moved favorable a Prince George’s County Public Schools FY2026 budget reconciliation that adjusts the district’s operating budget after state and federal aid changes.

County staff presented the reconciliation, describing the PGCPS FY2026 operating budget as $2,960,705,651, an increase of $57,000,000 (about 2%) over the FY2025 County Council–approved operating budget and roughly $10,000,000 (0.3%) over the county executive’s proposed FY2026 operating budget. Committee staff said the reconciliation process reflects adjustments the district must make after board- and executive-level budget actions and subsequent modifications in state or federal funding.

The presentation said the county contribution to PGCPS remained constant at $969,590,100. The reconciliation reflected a reported reduction in federal aid of $4,200,000 and an increase in state aid of $14,200,000, producing a net increase of $10,100,000 from the council-approved budget. Committee staff flagged an error in exhibit B percentage-change calculations in the materials but otherwise concluded their overview.

Members asked about special education and a line that appeared to show a $12,000,000 decrease in one column. Committee staff and district representatives confirmed the materials contained an error in the exhibit and clarified the special-education line should be an increase (committee staff described the earlier MSDE audit and corrective actions as part of the context). Committee members pressed on whether the reconciliation included funding needed to meet corrective-action requirements and asked about related staffing increases and human-resources capacity needed to recruit special-education staff.

The committee also discussed the depletion of a reserve line used historically for classroom balancing and said funding was realigned into school-level allocations to implement Blueprint for Maryland’s Future requirements that funding follow individual students. Committee staff explained that the reduction in a district reserve represented a realignment to school allocations rather than an elimination of funds.

After questions and discussion, the committee chair called for a motion. The committee moved the reconciliation favorable on a roll call vote of 5-0 (Chair Orietta, Council member Adam Stafford, Council member Hawkins, Council member Olson and Council member Watson voting Aye). The committee record noted a technical error in an exhibit and requested follow-up clarification on special-education figures and reserve adjustments.","The county council committee moved favorable a reconciliation from Prince George’s County Public Schools that reflects an approximately $10.1 million net increase due to a $14.2 million state-aid uptick offset by a $4.2 million federal-aid reduction; county contribution remained at the previously approved level.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council committee backs PGCPS FY2025 transfer request to prepay leases, shift program funds

Employ Prince George’s outlines youth-employment strategy; highlights CDL recruitment challenges and mobile career lab

County committee hears plan to expand county services inside Prince George’s library branches

Committee approves PGCPS FY2026 budget reconciliation after state-aid increase; council contribution unchanged