Caroline County school board approves FY27 superintendents proposed budget, cites $1.8M revenue gap
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Summary
The Caroline County School Board on Feb. 9 approved the FY27 superintendents proposed operating budget, which prioritizes staff compensation, special education services and literacy supports but leaves an estimated $1.8 million operational revenue gap to be addressed with grants, vacancy savings and county action.
The Caroline County School Board voted Feb. 9 to approve the superintendents proposed FY27 operating budget after a presentation by Superintendent Dr. Sarah Calverick and Chief Operations Officer Marsha Stevens.
The budget proposal centers on Achieve 2027 priorities and seeks a 3% salary increase (inclusive of step) for all staff, additional special education capacity and literacy staffing. Dr. Calverick told the board that CCPS is using an ADM of 4,340 for planning and that the division is aligning resources to classroom needs under the strategic plan.
Stevens outlined revenue assumptions tied to the governors proposed budget and local factors, saying the division expects about $2,040,000 in increased state revenues but will still face a projected revenue gap of roughly $1,800,000 if no local operational increase is approved. She told the board that operational expenditures increases were driven largely by proposed compensation and a $1,700,000 increase for contracted special education services.
Board members asked how the division would respond if the additional local or state funds did not materialize. Dr. Calverick said the division would pursue grant opportunities, evaluate department budgets for efficiencies and adopt a revised budget as needed. She noted recent grant awards for literacy and math totaling roughly $250,000 and said staff will monitor legislation and insurance premium quotes that could affect final totals.
The budget package approved by the board includes requests for new FTEs (reading specialists at Caroline Middle School and Bowling Green Elementary, a math teacher at the middle school, a history/social science teacher at the high school, special education collaborative staff, and a CTE coordinator and counselor), an attendance officer transitioned from expiring grant funding to the local base, and a modern transportation routing system.
With approval, Dr. Calverick said the budget will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10; the county administrator is scheduled to present the county FY27 budget to that board on March 10, with a public hearing on April 7.
The board approved the superintendents proposed budget by roll-call vote; supporting arguments included sustaining instructional priorities and retaining staff in a competitive regional labor market. The board did not amend the document on the floor and recorded unanimous approval.