By Adam Pagnucco.
The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), which represents teachers and other employees in MCPS, is blasting County Executive Marc Elrich’s FY25 recommended operating budget for not fully funding the school board’s request. Among other things, the teachers write, “Decision-makers continue to under-resource educators and force educators to do more with less. They then criticize us when students struggle to make academic gains because we cannot provide enough support.”
MCEA’s full statement appears below.
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March 14, 2024
Contact: Kate Hardwicke, mceapress@mceanea.org
For Immediate Release
Montgomery County Education Association Response to County Executive Elrich’s Proposed MCPS FY25 Budget
Rockville, MD – We are disappointed that County Executive Elrich, a former teacher who as an elected leader has previously been a champion of public education, has proposed a budget for MCPS that does not honor the Board of Education’s already insufficient request.
Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno noted that in real dollars the per pupil funding in his budget proposal still falls below the county’s expenditures per pupil in 2009. It is deeply concerning that the county’s commitment to public education has fallen as the percentage of students of color has grown to be the majority in our schools, and as there has been an increasing need for English language, special education, and mental health services.
Decision-makers continue to under-resource educators and force educators to do more with less. They then criticize us when students struggle to make academic gains because we cannot provide enough support.
We need a reinvestment in public education, not punishing austerity. Educators’ morale here is already low, staff are looking for the exits, and no one is standing in line to replace those who leave. Educator recruitment and retention issues will not be resolved if elected officials lack the courage to champion public education and treat us as respected professionals. Our students’ success is threatened when leaders charged with funding our schools abandon their responsibility to provide the resources needed for an excellent educational experience.
MCEA President Jennifer Martin stated, “We look now to the County Council to remedy this situation by ensuring MCPS has the vital funding it needs to function and flourish. It’s clear that they are distrustful of MCPS leadership, but the proposed cuts would punish students and front-line staff. At a time when we are seeking a new superintendent to right the ship and improve student learning outcomes, we need a budget that will support their efforts, not hamper them.”