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Calvert County Public Schools asks the county for flat funding in FY26 budget
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Andre Tounsell told commissioners the school system is requesting flat county funding for FY26, citing one-time savings and a need to absorb Blueprint for Maryland's Future costs and the end of ESSER funding.
Dr. Andre Tounsell, superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools, presented the board of education's FY26 proposal and said the district is asking the county for level (flat) funding compared with FY25 so the system can meet Blueprint requirements and maintain positions.
"Our county appropriation for fiscal year 25 was $164,000,000," Dr. Tounsell said, and he told commissioners the district's request asks for no additional county dollars beyond the current appropriation. He noted the district plans to use prior-year underspending (about $6.25 million from FY24 and an estimated $2.5 million from FY25) and projected interest earnings to cover expenditure increases tied to Blueprint and the end of ESSER funds.
Tounsell outlined that most school spending is for salaries and employee benefits (about 86.5% of the budget) and emphasized the district is trying to avoid staff reductions. He warned, however, that mandated changes from the Blueprint for Maryland's Future and the end of federal ESSER support have shifted costs back to local budgets.
