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Frederick County superintendent outlines five legislative priorities, invites public to Oct. 16 summit
Summary
Superintendent George Hummer announced a legislative summit for Oct. 16 and outlined five priorities for the state legislature — competing-cost funding, staffing licensure, work-based learning, infrastructure support and school safety — and urged residents to apply for school board advisory committees.
George Hummer, superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, announced a legislative summit for Oct. 16 and outlined five state-level priorities the division plans to take to its delegation and senator.
The summit is scheduled for Oct. 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Admiral Byrd Middle School, Hummer said. "This is gonna be our second year of this amazing opportunity for us to engage with our 2 delegates and our senator," he said, describing the event as a chance to "discuss constructively some things that we would like to see adjusted" at the state level.
Hummer said the division has five legislative priorities this year. He described the first as seeking a "cost of competing" adjustment (referred to in the remarks as the "CoCo Line adjustment") to provide additional dollars for northern division schools that compete with Washington, D.C., so the district can increase compensation and resources for staff and students. He said the adjustment would help the division "get some additional funding for our staff and for our students."
The second priority, Hummer said, asks the legislature to examine staffing licensure barriers that impede hiring and retention. "There are some barriers that we are up against with our staffing to make sure that we have the right staff in front of our students and that we are also helping our retention and recruitment for all staff," he said.
Hummer also said the division wants to expand pathways and work‑based learning, including internships and industry certifications, and that doing so will require more staff to build community partnerships. "With more additional funding, we will be able to add on those additional staff," he said.
On facilities, Hummer asked the state to help the district maintain school buildings and bring them up to operational standards, noting that much of the funding for building upkeep currently comes from the locality. He said the division will request state assistance to maintain infrastructure.
"Safety and security, as you know, is my top priority," Hummer said, urging state support for projects and services that keep schools, staff and the community safe.
Hummer closed by encouraging community involvement in school board advisory committees. He said applications were sent the previous week and listed committees including budget, capital improvements (CIP), technology and transportation. Interested residents were asked to submit applications to Clerk of the Board Nita DeSantis for appointment consideration.
Hummer thanked parents and students for their support and reiterated the division's goal of making Frederick County Public Schools "the best in the Commonwealth." The division did not announce formal votes or proposed legislation in the remarks; it invited community participation at the Oct. 16 summit where officials plan to discuss the priorities with state lawmakers.
