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MCPS adds operations, safety and legal capacity amid rising MPIA requests and food‑service pressures
Summary
The FY2027 proposal includes new funding for facilities, transportation, ADA accommodations, cybersecurity, and MPIA/legal staff. The board also discussed safe‑routes personnel after pedestrian collisions this year and a donor gift to help cover student meal debt.
Montgomery County Public Schools’ FY2027 recommendation includes targeted operational investments to address facilities, safety and administrative workload.
Operations staff presented about $10 million in increases and roughly 16 FTE to support facilities, transportation, food services and safety, including approximately $3.8 million for utilities and $1.9 million for new fire‑code compliance. The recommendation adds positions to support HCM (Hub Plus) implementation, cybersecurity, ADA accommodations, and the district’s growing MPIA/public‑information workload.
Board members endorsed adding bus‑route supervisors, bus attendants for special‑education routes, and a safe‑routes position after staff said the district experienced pedestrian collisions this year that resulted in injuries and fatalities. Staff said the safe‑routes addition is aimed at improving pedestrian safety during redistricting and program changes.
Legal and records workload has risen: staff reported MPIA requests increased from about 334 in FY23 to roughly 534 in FY25 and proposed adding legal staff to reduce reliance on outside counsel and to meet continuing legal education obligations under the Maryland State Bar. On food services, staff noted a private donation through the Education Foundation to address accumulated meal debt but said federal rules limit certain uses of enterprise funds.
Presenters said they will provide supporting exhibits and item‑level details in the online budget book and at follow‑up sessions.
