Board of Education seeks $9.5 million increase; commissioners press staffing, textbooks and health‑insurance risks

St. Mary’s County Public Schools presented a FY2013 operating request that asks the county for roughly $9.5 million more than last year, prompting questions from commissioners about staffing, textbook funding and health‑insurance risk.

Superintendent Dr. Martirano outlined the school system’s proposed increase and said the request emphasizes “people, programs and performance,” with a large share of requested funds directed to payroll, instructional materials and a $4 million contribution to an OPEB (other post‑employment benefits) trust. The superintendent characterized the request as aimed at restoring positions and supporting curriculum and assessment mandates.

Commissioners pressed for clarifications on several items. One commissioner asked why recent growth added 360 students and a need for 14 teachers, and whether those additional teachers were assigned primarily to middle schools. The superintendent explained most added teaching positions are program replacements rather than class‑size reductions, and that middle‑school class‑size algorithms include unified‑arts teachers differently than elementary calculations. The superintendent said two elementary teachers would be added at Evergreen Elementary specifically to address class size.

The budget in brief shows a requested $1,000,000 for a science textbook adoption that contributes to a reported 25.7% increase in the instructional textbooks and supplies category for FY2013. Commissioners expressed concern that, absent the $1 million textbook request, the supplies category would be reduced by roughly 10% from the prior year. School officials said the district is shifting toward online and leased devices under Race to the Top, which will also increase recurring costs for leased equipment and servers; officials said FY2013 budgeted Race to the Top related costs total about $1.1 million and are expected to grow toward $1.8 million in future years.

On compensation, the superintendent said the school system included a placeholder of about $2.3 million in the budget for negotiated salary increases and cost‑of‑living adjustments (roughly a 2% range overall). Commissioners asked why negotiators who decide terms at the bargaining table did not include a representative who “writes the check”; one commissioner asked that school negotiators include a county representative in future talks or otherwise improve coordination.

School officials described a change in health‑insurance payment practice: the district plans to shift to self‑funding and to pay CareFirst on a weekly basis rather than averaging monthly payments. The superintendent said CareFirst had provided a reserve check of about $2 million to begin the transition and that a first‑year reconciliation for FY2012 would still occur in November–December. Commissioners raised concerns that self‑funding combined with unsettled labor negotiations could create recurring budget pressure if co‑payments or plan design changes increase costs.

The superintendent also described out‑of‑area placements in special education—about 45 students currently placed outside the county by state child‑welfare or juvenile agencies—and explained the county receives state per‑pupil funding for those children but must appropriate a separate line to pay the out‑of‑county invoices when billed. Officials cited a per‑pupil invoice amount used for billing of $4,882.

Commissioners asked for additional follow‑up information on several items, including a breakdown of Race to the Top lease and server costs, an explanation of a 11.3% increase in student personnel services, and the net effect of reclassifications (listed as about $48,122 in the school response packet). Several commissioners said they would withhold final decisions until county department budgets and compensation discussions concluded the following day.

The school system’s FY2013 request remained under consideration at the end of the session; commissioners asked staff for more granular cost breakdowns before taking action.