Board approves FY2026 budget, ratifies union contracts and adopts traditional school calendar

The Charles County Board of Education voted unanimously on June 10 to adopt a $516,701,000 FY2026 operating budget after a presentation by chief financial officer Karen Acton and staff.

The board's vote followed staff presentations on budget drivers — including healthcare cost increases, bus contract and pension increases, anticipated costs for the new elementary school, and negotiated salary adjustments — and an explanation of a separate FY2025 intercategory transfer of $5.7 million to cover year-end category imbalances and unexpected maintenance/repair costs.

Superintendent Dr. Maria Navarro reviewed highlights for families, including summer meals and summer learning opportunities. CFO Karen Acton and budget manager Sherry Fisher Davis explained that the intercategory request is a routine, legally required reallocation across spending categories when actuals differ from projections. Acton emphasized the transfers paid specific operational and payroll timing issues and several facility repairs discovered late in the year.

The board also ratified collective bargaining agreements reached at the bargaining table for two bargaining units: - AFSCME (support staff): adopted by unanimous vote after a presentation by AFSCME Local 2989 president Gertrude “Gertie” Lawson and district chief negotiator Jeremy Campbell. The board approved the tentative agreement as presented and authorized signatures. - EACC (certified staff / educators): the board approved the negotiated agreement brought by co‑chief negotiators Dr. Marvin Jones and Kevin Lounds and district negotiators. Board members praised the collaborative process used by both sides.

Other business approved by the board included the education facilities master plan, adoption of the district’s recommended social studies curriculum (after the publisher agreed in writing to specified textual changes), approval of daily and hourly wage rates and tuition schedules for FY2026, and adoption of a traditional-start 2026–27 school calendar.

Board Chairperson Morley and Superintendent Navarro thanked staff and the bargaining teams for completing the negotiations within a tight fiscal environment. Navarro emphasized that some planned initiatives were delayed because statewide and federal funding streams did not arrive at expected levels, and she urged continued coordination with county leaders on funding priorities.

Votes at a glance - FY2026 operating budget (adoption): approved — unanimous. - FY2025 intercategory transfers ($5,700,000): approved — unanimous. - AFSCME collective bargaining agreement: approved — unanimous; board authorized signatures. - EACC (certified staff) collective bargaining agreement: approved — unanimous; board authorized signatures. - Daily/hourly wage rates & tuition schedule for FY2026: approved — unanimous. - Education facilities master plan: approved — unanimous. - Social studies curriculum adoption (with publisher commitments to edits): approved (board recorded approval and asked to receive signed/published corrections from vendor prior to full deployment). - 2026–27 school-year calendar (traditional-start model): adopted.

What to expect next Staff will finalize contract paperwork and scheduling. The district will receive the corrected social studies materials from the publisher before distributing them to classrooms, per the board’s request. CFO Acton and her team said they will continue monitoring FY2025 actuals and report back on month‑end results and any further intercategory movements.

Ending Board members repeatedly thanked teachers, staff and bargaining representatives for a negotiated outcome reached in a difficult fiscal environment and encouraged continued communication with county leaders about state and federal funding shortfalls that remain a constraint on district plans.