Board adopts operating budget after votes adding pay, counselors, safety pilot and program funding

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education on Feb. 24 approved the superintendent's recommended fiscal 2026 operating budget as amended, following a series of votes that added staffing, compensation changes and safety and program investments.

The board voted 8-0 to adopt the operating budget after approving a package of individual amendments over several hours. The changes approved at the meeting include a 1% midyear cost-of-living adjustment for employees, a $10 daily increase for substitute teachers, incentives and salary adjustments for long-serving staff and certification-eligible counselors, added mental-health staff and program funding for music and agricultural education. The board also expanded a noninvasive weapons-detection pilot to cover all high schools.

The superintendent, Dr. Bedell, and Chief Financial Officer Matt Stanski presented administration reconciliations tied to the governor's proposed state budget and several recommended adjustments before the board considered member amendments and public testimony. Stanski told the board the administration's initial package (amendments 1–5) reconciled state budget figures, shifted certain teacher retirement costs into local appropriations pending final state action, and updated charter-school payments based on revised enrollment projections.

Board members debated about where to invest limited county dollars. Vice President Dent moved final approval of the budget as amended. Several board amendments passed by recorded vote, including: a 1% midyear COLA for all employees (Amendment 9, passed 6-2); a $10-per-day increase in substitute pay (Amendment 10, passed 8-0); a $1,000 retention incentive for employees with 30+ years who agree to work an additional year (Amendment 11, passed 8-0); inclusion of school counselors in the National Board salary incentive and related funding (Amendment 12, passed 8-0); and compensation for fourth-grade teachers and lead planners for overnight school trips to Arlington Echo (Amendment 13, passed 8-0).

The board added personnel to reduce student-to-staff caseloads: two additional social workers (Amendment 16, passed 8-0), four school counselors (Amendment 17, passed 8-0), one pupil personnel worker (Amendment 18, passed 6-2) and two school psychologists (Amendment 19, passed 8-0). The board also approved $300,000 for musical instrument repair and replacement across elementary, middle and high schools (Amendment 14, passed 8-0) and $70,000 for the CASE agriculture science program (Amendment 20, passed 8-0). An amendment to add three secondary music teacher positions failed (Amendment 15, 1-7).

Board discussion and public testimony repeatedly framed the votes. Teachers, students and parents urged the board during public comment to prioritize staffing and program supports. Christina Corona, TAC president and a high school English teacher, spoke in favor of additional special-education positions and pay changes in the proposed budget. Multiple current and former educators testified in support of the school-counselor and mental-health staffing amendments, and a broad group of parents and students asked the board to fund music instruments and agricultural programs.

On school safety, the board expanded a noninvasive weapons-detection pilot. The motion (Amendment 21) increased the pilot line item and altered the pilot's scope; board members debated whether to pilot in two schools or deploy more broadly. After extended discussion that included concerns about mental-health effects, wait times and operational details, the board voted 8-0 to increase the line item and to pilot detection systems at all high schools, with district staff to manage implementation and professional development.

After the amendment votes, the board voted to adopt the full operating budget by voice and roll call; the final motion passed 8-0. Chair and board members thanked the superintendent and staff for the budget process and noted follow-up steps with the county executive and county council.

Votes at a glance - Superintendent’s recommended fiscal 2026 operating budget, as amended — Passed 8-0 (motion: Vice President Dent). - Amendment 9: Add 1% midyear COLA for all employees — Passed 6-2. - Amendment 10: Increase substitute teacher daily pay by $10 — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 11: $1,000 retention incentive for employees with 30+ years who work an additional year (subject to negotiation) — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 12: Add $87,000 for counselors to receive National Board incentive eligibility and related funding (subject to negotiation) — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 13: Compensate fourth-grade teachers and lead planner for Arlington Echo overnight trips (subject to negotiation) — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 14: Add $300,000 for instrument repair and replacement — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 15: Add 3 secondary music teachers — Failed 1-7. - Amendment 16: Add 2 social workers — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 17: Add 4 school counselors — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 18: Add 1 pupil personnel worker — Passed 6-2. - Amendment 19: Add 2 school psychologists — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 20: Add $70,000 for CASE agricultural science — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 21: Increase line item for noninvasive weapons-detection pilot and pilot detection at all high schools — Passed 8-0. - Amendment 22: Add 2 twelve-month bilingual facilitators — Passed 8-0.

The board advanced the budget to the county-level appropriation process and will provide materials to the county executive and county council for the next phase of local funding decisions. Superintendent Dr. Bedell and staff said they will return with implementation details and timelines for the staffing additions and pilot programs.

Ending: The board ended the meeting after the vote and scheduled follow-up budget committee and committee meetings; the superintendent and finance staff will reconcile the adopted budget with final state and county appropriations as those figures become available.