Worcester County board hears FY27 budget input as Maryland Blueprint shifts funding to school level

Worcester County Board of Education members heard a public input session focused on fiscal-year 2027 budget priorities and the local impacts of Maryland’s Blueprint for Education, including a shift that requires revenues to "follow the student" and more detailed, school-level reporting.

Superintendent Dr. Wallace opened the hearing by saying the budget process will keep students "at the center of every decision" and thanked families and staff for participating. Physical operations director Mr. Tolbert framed Pillar 5 of the Blueprint—the governance and accountability pillar—as the most operationally disruptive change, telling the board the Blueprint "is going to be phased in over a 10 year period with estimated cost between, local and state of about $3,900,000,000" and that revenue and expenditure reporting must now be done "by school."

Tolbert highlighted several compliance and cost items the district must absorb. He reminded the board that the Blueprint’s statutory schedule includes a $60,000 starting-teacher salary requirement effective July 1…