BCPS board hears superintendent’s FY‑26 budget shortfall and approves a slate of personnel, boundary and budget items

Superintendent Marion J. Rogers told the Board of Education of Baltimore County on May 6 that the county executive’s proposed FY‑26 budget funded $28.9 million of BCPS’s additional request while the district had sought about $100.3 million in new recurring resources, leaving a gap of roughly $71.3 million.

Rogers said the county executive’s proposal included “a 3 and a half percent above maintenance of effort,” but that the total fell short of the school system’s requests. She outlined recurring cost increases the district faces — including higher utility costs, growing non‑public placement tuition and health‑care costs — and said some items funded with federal ESSER pandemic dollars in prior years had been folded into the operating budget, creating additional recurring obligations.

The shortfall has prompted the district to extend a hiring freeze for many central‑office and non‑school positions, reopen labor negotiations and identify other budget reductions, Rogers said. “We are working with the county council and our budget team to provide any and all information they request,” she said, adding that staff posted detailed reconciliations and supplemental materials on the district’s Budget 101 page. BCPS will present materials to the County Council before it finalizes the county budget on May 30.

Why it matters: Rogers and finance staff framed the gap as the driver of multiple board decisions on May 6: the board approved transfers and a supplemental FY‑25 appropriation to align the current year’s budget with spending; it also approved a proposed FY‑25/FY‑26 organization chart that reduces several executive positions while creating an executive director role in fiscal services. Board members debated whether the fiscal lead should be designated an executive director or elevated to a chief financial officer title with commensurate authority and pay.

Key supporting details - Requested additional funding shown in the superintendent’s presentation: about $100.3 million; county executive proposed additional funding: $28.9 million; the difference (excluding some one‑time items) reported as about $71.3 million. - Drivers cited by staff: rising utilities, non‑public tuition parity increases, health‑care and OPEB costs, and the absorption of recurring expenses previously paid from federal ESSER funds (BCPS cited about $57.8 million of recurring costs absorbed into the operating budget, including expanded instructional time and a teacher‑salary increase to $60,000 starting salary). - District actions under way: extended hiring freeze for central‑office and non‑school positions, internal postings to prioritize displaced staff, cuts to supplies and materials, and reopened labor negotiations.

Board action at a glance (roll‑call votes and approvals) - Personnel matters (terminations, retirements, resignations, leaves and certificate appointments as shown in exhibits D‑1 through D‑5): motion moved by Member Paul (record: “So moved, Paul”); second by Chike Kalu; approved by roll call. - Administrative appointments (exhibit E‑1): motion moved by Stoleski; second by Paul; approved by roll call. Appointments announced included Deidre Lynch as principal of Stony Elementary School and administrative hires in IT and cloud operations. - Boundary changes: Arbutus and Catonsville Middle School boundary recommendation (exhibit J‑1) — motion by Harvey, second by Pong; approved by roll call. Holly Manor community boundary recommendation affecting Hillcrest and Westchester elementary schools (exhibit K‑1) — motion by Stolaskey, second by Savoy; approved by roll call. - Action taken in closed session: affirmed the board’s action on Hearing Examiner case HEA‑25‑018 and authorized signing for absent members — motion moved by Burns; seconded and approved by roll call. - Policy review (first reader acceptance of committee report for proposed changes to policies 12‑40, 40‑02, 40‑10, 63‑04 and 63‑07 presented as exhibits M‑1 through M‑5): motion moved by Henn (committee recommendation accepted); approved by roll call. - Contract awards: the board’s Building and Contract Committee forwarded multiple contracts to the full board. The board approved grouped contracts and several individual contracts after discussion. Contracts cover instructional materials, community‑school providers (mentoring, wraparound services), W‑2 processing, asbestos inspections and relocatables modular/lease purchases. (Some contracts were separated for discussion and action; one contract (N‑9) was removed from the evening’s vote.) - Dedication: the board approved naming the Bedford Elementary School courtyard “Connolly’s Courtyard” in honor of former principal Christina A. Connolly — motion by Stoleski; second by Chike Kalu; approved by roll call. - Organization chart (FY‑26 proposed chart, exhibit P): motion to approve as presented; motion to amend (Henn) to elevate the executive director of fiscal services to chief financial officer was defeated on roll call (three in favor, remainder opposed); the original organization chart as proposed was approved by roll call. - FY‑25 Budget Appropriation Transfer (BAT; exhibit Q‑1): the board approved a BAT to realign FY‑25 budget categories to planned and projected year‑end expenses — motion moved by Chile Kalu; second by Stolaskey; approved by roll call. - FY‑25 Supplemental Appropriation (exhibit Q‑2): the board approved a supplemental appropriation (including about $10.5 million for year‑two Oracle ERP implementation and other items) — motion moved by Stoleski; second by Harvey; approved by roll call.

What board members and staff said - “When the budget was released on April 11, we sent a short communication ... Proposed budget included a 3 and a half percent above maintenance of effort,” Superintendent Marion Rogers said as she summarized the county executive’s proposal and the district’s reconciliation work. “We are working with the county council and our budget team to provide any and all information that they request.” - Budget director Jim Sarris described the FY‑25 supplemental appropriation request and the drivers behind current‑year transfers, including ERP costs and special‑education and repair/maintenance shortfalls. - In the organization‑chart discussion, Board Member Henn argued elevating the fiscal lead to CFO would provide strategic value and fiscal discipline, while other members and the superintendent said the proposed executive‑director structure reflected necessary short‑term savings.

Implementation notes and next steps - The county council will act on the county executive’s proposed budget; BCPS staff are scheduled to present to the council and expected to continue negotiations, including with employee unions, over year‑two salary funding. - The district posted detailed budget reconciliation documents and Budget 101 resources on BCPS.org for public review.

Ending The board meeting included a lengthy public comment period (parents, union representatives, student leaders and community groups spoke on concerns from teacher pay to social‑emotional supports). The board adjourned after covering contracts, personnel appointments, policy updates, and the supplemental budget action; the next board meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2025.