Proposed Operating Budget Highlights
Fiscal Year 2002

Presented January 9, 2001

The following information represents highlights of the proposed 2002 fiscal year operating budget request from the Baltimore County Public Schools. A public hearing will be held on this request, and the Baltimore County Board of Education will hold a work session before approval the budget request and submitting it to the County Executive’s Office prior to March 1, 2001.

The Public Hearing on Operating Budget Request will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2001, at 7:00 p.m., at the Ridge-Ruxton Center, 6916 Charles Street, Towson, 21204. Speaker sign-up for that hearing begins at 6:15 p.m.

The Board of Education Work Session on Operating Budget will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2001, at 7:00 p.m., at the ESS Building, Greenwood Administrative campus, 6901 Charles Street, Towson, 21204. The public is welcome to attend.

Budget Requests by Priority

I. To Improve Student Achievement

  • Elementary Reading Series: $2.9 million.
  • 5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions for Academic Intervention Team to support low-performing schools: $412,000.
  • 20 days Extended Year Employee per teacher for 10 low performing schools: $1.94 million.
  • NW/SW Regional Team to address foster care student issues: $500,000 in special state funding.
  • Special Education Positions – Professional: $2.66 million.
    • Year 1 of a 2-year phase-in of Board-approved staffing plan
    • 53 FTE special education teachers.
    • 5 FTE speech language pathologist positions
  • Special Education Positions – Instructional Assistants.
    • Year 1 of 3-year implementation plan.
    • 96 FTE I.A. positions: $2.26 million.
    • Test Trax Maintenance to support instructional decision-making: $75,000.

II. To improve the number of students taking and passing the Advanced Placement Tests

  • Distance Learning Initiative: $300,500 (incl. 2 teachers, 7 Instructional Assistants, equipment, internship program)
  • Funding for AP tests in hardship cases: $50,000.
  • Training workshops and seminars: $55,800.

III. To improve the number of students taking and achieving on the Scholastic Assessment Test

  • Training workshops and seminars for SAT/PSAT: $251,000.
  • Funding for PSAT testing of all 10th grade students: $92,000.
  • Training for teachers new to Gifted and Talented programs: $25,400.

IV. To increase the number of students successfully completing their courses of study

  • Library collection material maintenance: $537,000.

V. To ensure students are provided with an opportunity to use technology.

  • Upgrade Wide Area Network/Local Area Network infrastructure (one-time cost).
    • Upgrade existing closet electronics in schools: $4.13 million.
    • Replace aging computer equipment: $406,000.
    • Upgrade and installation of servers for schools: $765,000.
    • Upgrade WAN electronics: $150,000.
    • Upgrades to bandwidth: $228,000.
    • Database development: $50,000.
    • Wireless connections to portable classrooms: $83,000.
    • Classroom whiteboards: $734,000.
    • Equipment for art and automotive career completer programs: $300,000.
    • Fire Suppression System for Central Computer Room: $125,000.
    • Subtotal of one-time only items: $6.97 million.
  • 5 FTE Cisco Academy Teachers: $229,500.

VI. To improve the quality and timeliness of services provided to students, staff, parents, and community.

  • One-time only costs:
    • Personal computer for every teacher: $9.86 million.
    • Magnet Programs Evaluation Study: $20,000.

  • 1 FTE grant specialist: $88,000.
  • 10 FTE Network Technicians: $571,000.
  • 20 custodians: $661,000.
  • Musical instrument replacement: $223,000.
  • Partnership with Howard and Johns Hopkins Universities to advance achievement for minority students: $44,000.
  • Non-public placement: $908,000.

VII. To align curriculum, instruction, and assessment, K-12

  • Textbooks to implement newly aligned curricula (one-time cost):
    • Spanish: $470,000.
    • French: $128,000.
    • Economics: $181,000.

VIII. To enhance partnership of home and schools

  • Assisted technology for special education students schooled at home: $47,000.
  • Technology upgrade for the Parentmobile: $5,300.

IX. To increase community involvement and confidence in public education.

  • Upgrade video equipment in Board of Education control room to enhance broadcasts of Board events: $171,400.

X. To promote health and safety of students and staff

  • School fitness equipment safety inspections: $10,500.
  • One-time only costs:
    • Venetian blind replacement: $250,000.
    • Security and safety equipment installations: $250,000.
    • Replace protective athletic equipment: $65,680.

XI. To recruit and maintain a quality workforce

  • Salary increases:
    • 5% COLA increase for TABCO pay scales: $17.29 million.
    • 5% COLA increase for non-TABCO bargaining units: $8.39 million.
    • FICA on salary increases: $2.79 million.
    • 4% raise for substitutes and paid helpers: $432,000.
    • Year 2 of agreed-upon salary increase schedule for principals: $606,000.Transportation salaries: $1.93 million.

  • Administrative and Supervisory Personnel to 12-month status: $215,000
  • Advanced Professional and National Certification stipend (local match): $20,000.
  • Principals’ Academy for Leadership Development: $50,000

Fixed Costs Increases for FY 2002

  • Increased fuel costs: $275,000
  • Increased utilities costs: $1.64 million
  • Increased costs for college credit reimbursements: $275,000
  • Increments and longevities: $7.657 million.
  • Fringe benefits: $6.71 million.

Increases in Shifts and Enrollments for FY 2002

  • New Town Elementary School start-up costs: $636,300
  • 9 FTE New Town ES Fixed Staff: $408,000
  • 56.7 FTE for additional enrollment increase: $2.6 million.

Savings Within Baseline

  • Bus/Vehicle Leases: ($635,289)
  • Timonium Office Space: ($100,000)
  • Electric Deregulation: ($230,000)
  • Telephone Billing Reimbursements: ($500,000)
  • Contributions to Workman’s Compensation Fund: ($4 million)
  • Total savings: ($5.46 million)

Above Baseline Requests Include:

  • 212.0 additional positions beyond increases and shifts in enrollment
  • $22,449,501 in one-time only requests – a decrease of 9.5% from FY 2001
  • $54,241,362 for continuous items – an increase of 7.6% from FY 2001 adjusted base.

Grand Total for FY 2002

  • $803,051,541

An increase of 10.6% above FY 2001 adjusted baseline, or $76,690,863