School Super prepares to release budget... Outlook not good

School Superintendent Says of Budgets: 'We are at a Tipping Point in our School System'

Guthrie said the school system may again be facing drastic cuts budget in FY 2014

http://eldersburg.patch.com/articles/school-superintendent-says-of-budgets-we-are-at-a-tipping-point-in-our-school-system

Superintendent provides community an update on school funding & upcoming budget outlook

On Monday, November 19th, CCPS Superintendent Steve Guthrie joined Commissioner Howard's Town Hall meeting to provide the South Carroll community with an update regarding the school system budget.  The group was given a comprehensive overview including statistics on school enrollment, capital and operating expenses and the budget outlook taking several scenarios into consideration as well as the future of the Utilization Study.  The school system is currently looking to hire an independent organization with expertise in reviewing school building capacity and usage.

Bottom Line:  Mr. Guthrie is expecting anywhere between a $3-8 million reduction in next year's (FY14) budget.  Much of it depends on the State legislature (state revenues) and the local Commissioners - several of whom have expressed a desire to reduce the current budgeted amount (local dollars).  While no specific areas were cited, Mr. Guthrie indicated that should the school system's budget be reduced to Maintenance of Effort (MOE), it could mean eliminating up to 50 teaching positions.  As he has stated on many occasions, all other areas have been cut to the core and any further cuts would begin to have a direct impact on student achievement.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE INFORMATION PROVIDED AT THE MEETING, PLEASE EMAIL KELLI OR ERIN FOR A COPY OF MR. GUTHRIE'S  PRESENTATION.

Thank you!

KELLI NELSON
belle2gabby@yahoo.com

ERIN BISHOP
senbish@msn.com

Superintendent to be featured at next So. Carr. Town Hall mtg - November 19th

Dear Eldersburg/Sykesville Residents:

Commissioner Howard will be hosting his second Town Hall Meeting at the South Carroll Senior Center on Monday, November 19^th at 7pm. The featured guest speaker this month is Superintendent Stephen Guthrie who will be speaking about the challenges facing Carroll County Public Schools both fiscal and academic.

The meeting’s format will be similar to last month’s with the guest speaker and then an update from Commissioner Howard, followed by open questions and comments.

Everyone is invited, so please spread the word. If you’re a member of an organization located in the area, please forward this invitation to your members.

Commissioner Howard hopes that everyone will be able to attend.

Best regards,

Roberta Windham, Esq.

Carroll County Commissioners' Office

225 North Center Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

 

Town Hall Meeting (in Westminster) Tonight!

Press Release

Release Date: 9/24/2012 9:04:24 AM

 

Board President and Superintendent to Host Town Meeting

Board President Jennifer Seidel and Superintendent Stephen Guthrie will be hosting a town meeting on Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at 7 p.m. at West Middle School, located at 60 Monroe Street in Westminster.

The purpose of the meeting is to create an open dialogue with parents and the community. Members of the community are invited to attend and address their concerns or ask questions regarding education topics and issues. The meeting is intended to be an open forum; however, depending on the number of participants the time for each speaker may be limited.

Not all Commissioners pleased with BoE meeting results; still want schools closed or threaten funding

Below is a link to the video of last Thursday’s Open Session of the Board of Commissioners meeting.  During the discussion related to the previous night’s School Board meeting, two of the four Commissioners present (Commissioner Frazier was absent) make it very clear of their intent to reduce school system funding to Maintenance of Effort (MOE) given that the school system failed to act on closing one or more facilities.  This will have a devastating impact on the school system’s operating budget.

 

The discussion related to the school board meeting, school capacity and school system funding begins 1 hr/45 mins into the Commissioner’s meeting.  It is a lengthy discussion. 

http://carrollcountymd.iqm2.com/citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=1702&AgendaID=1571&FileFormat=pdf&Format=Agenda&MediaFileFormat=wmv

 

BOTTOM LINE:  Certain members of the Board of Commissioners seem determined in their assertion that the school system should identify one or more schools to close as a means of identifying “inefficiencies as it relates to capacity”. It is also clear that if the school system does not identify one or more schools to close, certain Commissioners have every intention of reducing the school system’s operating budget – this would result in massive cuts across the entire system over the next five year period!

 

No school closures named during Board presentation

October 11, 2012
Kelli Nelson

As you can imagine, last night's Board of Education meeting was intense, to say the very least.  It is hard for me to be objective in recapping the events of last night.  It is accurate that the Superintendent, Mr. Guthrie, did not propose any school closings.  However, he, along with several members of the Board of Education and Commissioner Howard do feel an independent, third-party review/study is still necessary.

I would encourage everyone to watch the re-broadcast of the Board meeting (either on Cable TV or via the school system's website: www.carrollk12.org).  If you can only listen to or view part of the discussion(s), I encourage you to watch the first 20 minutes of the meeting, which includes an impassioned speech from Mr. Guthrie, along with a detailed explanation of the current budget situation and various financial scenarios as we move forward.

Bottom line(s):

• THE "FIGHT" HAS JUST BEGUN!  If we - residents, parents, teachers AND students - do not weigh in and stay vigilant during the upcoming budget process, our schools facilities will continue to be targeted.
• If we do not express our concerns and views directly to ALL five of the Commissioners, several are likely to continue calling for school closures as a way to offset costs.
• If we do not tell them exactly how we feel about our schools and the education of our students on behalf of our school system, several of the Commissioners may continue to call for reductions in the upcoming school system budget (back to M.O.E.) which will mean DRASTIC changes in the education of our students.
• If we think we're "safe" and "relax" now that Liberty High School was not named for closure, WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK HERE NEXT YEAR!

Please take time to read the articles below, watch a re-cap of last night's Board meeting and call on the Commissioners to maintain level funding ($164 million) for our schools.

Continue to speak out and stay informed.  This is far from over.

Board of Education hears facility study report, superintendent does not release school closure options - Carroll County Times: Local

Board of Education hears facility study report, superintendent does not release school closure options - Carroll County Times: Local: As Assistant Superintendent of Administration Jonathan O’Neal got to the school closure options portion of the Comprehensive Facility Utilizat…

Board of Ed Halts Facilities Study, No Schools Suggested for Closure

Board of Ed Halts Facilities Study, No Schools Suggested for Closure

When it came time to announce options for schools to be closed, Superintendent Steve Guthrie said "I am not going to name any schools tonight."

http://eldersburg.patch.com/articles/board-of-ed-halts-facilities-study-no-school-suggested-for-closure?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001

Commissioner Howard clarifies position on school closings

Commissioner Howard Clarifies Position on Closing Schools, Education Funding

Commissioner Doug Howard makes his position clear in response to an article posted on Patch yesterday.

 

http://eldersburg.patch.com/articles/commissioner-howard-clarifies-position-on-closing-schools-education-funding

 

CCPS Enrollment Projections Report

CCPS Enrollment Projections Report (December 2011)

http://www.carrollk12.org/Assets/file/School_Facilities/Enrollment%20Projections/Complete%20Document/Complete%20Document.pdf