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PGCPS designee highlights budget timeline, immigrant resources and family-engagement events
Summary
Dr. Sheila Jackson, superintendent designee for Prince George's County Public Schools, briefed the Parent and Community Advisory Council on upcoming budget hearings, new immigrant-family resources, Black History Month and family-support events and encouraged parent participation in the budget process.
Dr. Sheila Jackson, superintendent designee for Prince George's County Public Schools, told the Parent and Community Advisory Council on Feb. 5 that the school system’s budget process is entering a public phase and urged parents to review the budget book and speak at hearings.
"It is very important that parents, first of all, look at the budget book that's on the school system website, but also come prepared to speak about what you think," Jackson said.
Jackson said communications and community engagement staff are working together to publicize the budget calendar and related hearings. She said links and materials are available on the district website and that staff will provide a copy of her presentation to council members via Ms. Barton.
Why it matters: the budget sets staffing, school programs and service levels. Jackson framed parent input as part of shaping the "living" budget and said the district is seeking family feedback as it develops the spending plan.
Jackson also described new immigration resources posted on the PGCPS homepage and said principals and family-facing staff will be trained to point families to those tools. "We just want every family to know that they are in a safe place in Prince George's County Public Schools," she said, adding that the district has translated materials and a video message from the superintendent. She and others on the call said some families are fearful about enforcement actions nationally and the district wants to provide guidance and a list of helplines and local supports.
The designee listed calendar items and school-system events: - A budget public hearing and work session in the coming week; council staff circulated a budget calendar and the budget book online. - Second-quarter report cards will be released online. - An inclement-weather makeup date is scheduled for Feb. 14 (school will be in session). - Schools and offices are closed Feb. 17. - The first day of Ramadan begins at sunset on Feb. 27; PGCPS will avoid scheduling evening system events that night. - Feb. 28 will be a half day for students with a three-hour early dismissal. - A wellness festival with partner Hazel Health is planned for March 1. - The Family Institute resumes Feb. 11 with a session on mental-health resources in the county.
Jackson also reported that parent engagement assistant (PEA) positions have been filled and that some schools are using student-based budgeting to purchase staffing to support family engagement.
A council member raised the idea of offering a hybrid-learning option for students affected by immigration concerns; Jackson said she did not have an immediate answer and suggested raising the topic at a Board of Education meeting. "I don't have an answer for you, but I think that would be a wonderful question for you to bring to the Board of Education meeting to ask," she said.
The designee closed by reminding members they will receive the presentation materials and invited questions at future meetings.
