Dr. Bedell presented the Anne Arundel County Public Schools' FY27 operating- and capital-budget recommendation to the Board of Education on Dec. 17, emphasizing investments in personnel and targeted student supports while acknowledging fiscal constraints.

The superintendent proposed a $1.9 billion operating budget that he said is $116 million more than the current year. He said roughly $56.6 million (49% of that increase) would be allocated to compensation and benefit increases, including a step or step-equivalent for eligible employees and a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for all employees. "This recommendation does not lay off a single employee," Dr. Bedell said, repeating the commitment later in his remarks.

Key figures Dr. Bedell presented include 205.3 positions in the recommendation (more than 96% of them student-facing) and targeted allocations for students with disabilities: the budget proposes $9.7 million for 82.2 new positions (about 40% of the new positions recommended) to address rising enrollment and complexity of needs in specialized instruction. He said the district currently serves 11,150 students with disabilities, a 17% increase over five years.

On capital and programmatic items, the recommendation includes $4.1 million to support the Village Academy public charter school opening in the Annapolis Mall, $1.1 million for the Carver Early Education Center (supporting 8.5 positions and space for about 120 prekindergarten students), and $12 million to cover blueprint-mandated funding for community schools and related supports. Dr. Bedell also noted a preliminarily approved $231.7 million capital budget and singled out nearly $136 million toward construction of the new Old Mill High School and Old Mill Middle School North.

Dr. Bedell framed the budget around protecting staff and sustaining recent gains in AP participation, test-taking and equity measures. He said the district achieved a 32% increase in AP enrollment and a 41% increase in AP exams administered since his first year, with notable gains in subgroup participation and performance.

Board members praised the focus on people and signaled they will examine the details in the coming weeks; no final board vote on the FY27 budget occurred at this meeting. Dr. Bedell said the recommendation reflects an effort to avoid layoffs amid enrollment declines (771 fewer students this year) and rising inflationary pressures, including an estimated $1.6 million added electricity cost next year.

Next steps: The board will review the proposal in detail, consider potential adjustments and follow the district's budget calendar and county-council submission process.