By Adam Pagnucco.
Previously, I introduced this series and asked the candidates about what they believed was MCPS’s biggest problem. Today, let’s talk about budgets. MCPS’s FY24 operating budget totals $3.165 billion and is larger than the budgets of the county government ($2.59 billion), Montgomery College ($345 million) and Park and Planning ($185 million). Not only does MCPS have the largest budget of any school district in the state – it has a larger budget than all but a handful of state agencies too. Accordingly, I asked the candidates:
Question: Describe any experience you have in overseeing budgets of large organizations.
Lynne Harris, At-Large (Incumbent): For the past 3+ years on the Board of Education I have taken a deep dive into the process of analyzing the fiscal and operational needs of MCPS, tying that to our Theory of Action/Coherence model in which everything is evaluated in conformity with the Strategic Plan, looking at the budget recommendations coming from the Superintendent– both Capital and Operating – and assessing those in conjunction with my ongoing work to understand the work of each Office, Department and Division of MCPS. Then asking substantive questions during budget work sessions and meetings so that I feel confident in the final budgets that MCPS sends forward. I also regularly attend the County Council’s Education and Culture and other committee and whole Council sessions when MCPS budgets and operations are on the agenda so that I have a solid sense of the thinking of our funders.
Prior to my Board service, as a member of MCCPTA’s executive committee I several times served on the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory group. More directly – I was elected president of MCCPTA in April 2017, stepping in (along with an amazing team of fellow officers) when MCCPTA was in both organizational and financial crisis due to the embezzlement of the prior MCCPTA treasurer. We immediately adopted and widely and transparently shared a series of budgetary and financial reforms, devised by a team of three volunteers who had thoroughly analyzed the financial situation, and very quickly rebuilt the organization.
Sharif Hidayat, At-Large: In college, I served on the finance committee that provided over a million dollars to student groups on campus. The process included reviewing funding requests for programs that would benefit the student body. The process was very lengthy and required committee members to be good listeners, fiscally responsible and empathetic to each group requesting funds.
Melissa Kim, At-Large: No response
Jonathan Long, At-Large: I work for a one-billion-dollar financial institution. I manage a team of 16, overseeing payment and deposit products. I manage contracts with a number of vendors, the largest of which is a five-year $15 million contract.
Fitzgerald Mofor, At-Large: I worked as a para-educator in both private and public schools. I later entered the field of electoral politics, working as a professional canvasser in the 2022 gubernatorial elections while simultaneously earning my master’s in law. I worked as a liaison in the Maryland General Assembly. I graduated from MCPS in 2013, and I see my youth and status as a political outsider as positive. I have not been corrupted by political power, and I can usher in innovative ideas that have not been applied in the past. Yes, I have not overseen a $3.35 billion operating budget; however, that isn’t a requirement to understand that a 30% increase in the central office isn’t fiscally responsible, and the supposed subject matter experts regarding the budget have failed to utilize our public dollars effectively in our educational system. Expanded bureaucracy that leads to budgetary constraints will not answer MCPS’s problems. For instance, in the latest tentative budget request, MCPS will add a senior certification specialist position within the Office of Human Resources Development (OHRD). This isn’t a necessity to fix the central office’s issues with transparency. Adequate oversight can be established with an oversight committee, which will not induce budgetary constraints.
Rita Montoya, At-Large: I will work to get caught up to speed on the $3b+ MCPS budget like incoming Board Members before me. I learn quickly and also commit to gaining any skills necessary to fulfill all of my Board duties.
Brenda Diaz, District 2: Recently, the Taxpayers’ League of Montgomery County conducted a thorough analysis of MCPS’s budget in their two-hour-long Budget-palooza. During this meeting, the speakers highlighted notable areas of both concerns and achievements for each department. Due to my experience within MCPS as a Social Studies Teacher at Gaithersburg High School and as a building representative for MCEA during that time, in addition to serving as an administrator at a local progressive private school in D.C., I was able to ask pointed questions about several departments during this Budget-palooza, including Special Education. Because I possess the necessary keen insight into how MCPS functions, I will be able to ask the required hard questions of MCPS as a Board member.
In addition, as a small business owner in Montgomery County and mother of three children, I recognize wasteful spending when I see it. From analytical skills to marketing and strategic planning to budgeting, running your own educational program requires the same skills as overseeing a large organization.
Ricky Fai Mui, District 2: Naval Officer. I led an Operations Department on a warship. I developed budgets for training, required materials, maintenance plans, and people/ resources, valued in the $millions. In my current role as a consultant, I assist the federal agencies to mitigate wasteful expenditure of time and effort, streamlining how programs are run, thereby reducing manpower costs, of which I received recognition for my efforts.
Industry Experience. A few years ago, while working at Frito Lay, I support multi-million dollar projects to expedite shipping velocity. I oversaw the maintenance of equipment, developed training protocols, and inspected metrics for manufacturing production and outbound shipping.
Rebecca Smondrowski, District 2 (Incumbent): As a twelve-year member of the Board of Education, I have played an integral part of over a dozen budgets for MCPS. I have worked to develop budgets in times of surplus and have had equal experience making difficult decisions to prioritize our funding on student learning when budget reductions have been necessary. I believe that every dollar must be spent in a fiscally responsible manner. It is essential that programs and processes are reviewed regularly to ensure that they are fully satisfying their purpose at a cost competitive to alternate options. Budgets must be linked to programs. It is important that we evaluate programs and initiatives and consider the value of the funds being spent. We must hold ourselves and our teams accountable for every dollar spent. I have advocated and supported the redevelopment of the program budget which will give greater insight and transparency in how our taxpayer dollars are spent.
Aby Thioye, District 2: As a clinical research coordinator at the National Institute of Health, I ensure that our work is on time and under budget. I work closely with medical directors and am responsible for submitting monthly reports to my supervisors. I work cohesively in close coordination with my team of research nurses. I see projects through from start to finish on a regular basis. I will bring this management and leadership experience to the school board.
Natalie Zimmerman, District 2: I have been part of managing budgets for congressional campaigns, Dance Marathon at The University of Michigan, and budgets at non-profit organizations. While I have not been a treasurer of an organization for about 10 years, I know how every penny is impactful on students and educators from my classroom experience.
Shebra Evans, District 4 (Incumbent): A key role of a school board member is adopting both an operating and capital improvements program budget. I have had the responsibility over the past eight years to oversee both budgets totaling on average over $4 billion annually. These investments ensure we remain laser focused on students, staff, classrooms and schools. The Board’s strategic plan outlines the work and is our guide to ensure students are college, career and community ready. In addition, I serve as treasurer for the Maryland Association for Boards of Education (MABE) and as a MABE OPEB Trustee. My previous work as an analyst afforded me the opportunity to have a portfolio that represented over $50 million in monthly accounts receivables.
Bethany Mandel, District 4: I have six children; and while that’s not an organization, we keep everyone fed, clothed and somewhat entertained on a middle class budget in one of the most expensive metro areas in the United States. The same principles apply to larger organizations: cost-cutting, conscientious spending, and fiscal responsibility.
Laura Stewart, District 4: I have tracked the MCPS Capital Improvements Program (CIP) as the Montgomery Council of PTA’s (MCCPTA) CIP Chair for the last 6 years. I’ve used the county’s Office and Managements Budget site to track where the money is coming from and how it is allocated. I’ve also used the MCPS CIP publication which are all PDFs of tables and in past years I did analysis on spending patterns, sometimes transcribing the information into useful datasets. I used this information to advocate for using our funds more equitably and efficiently. I have also participated in the quadrennial review of the Adequate Public Facility Ordinance and in the last review I actively advocated to ensure that there are revenue streams to build school capacity in order to match new needed development. I will be a good steward of our tax dollars if elected.
I’ve also been on boards and have managed budgets. If I see irregularities, I will act. While on a board, I chaired an ad-hoc audit committee as a result of financial irregularities that the executive committee was not addressing. This led to the conviction of the then-treasurer and new safeguards. I have experience in taking oversight seriously.
Next: We will talk about the incumbents, both from their point of view and that of the challengers. Don’t miss it!