December 16, 2025 Staff and Community Update: Highlights from the Superintendent’s December 2025 Press Conference
Watch the Press Conference
Dr. Myriam Rogers held a media availability today, December 16, to provide updates and information for Team BCPS.
Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget
- Dr. Rogers and the leadership team are preparing a recommended Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget request to present to the Board of Education and Team BCPS.
- We have spent the last several months engaging our staff, families, and stakeholders in conversation about the budget and priority areas for our system. It is important to us that our community knows and understands sources of BCPS funding, how funding is spent and where they can find additional information. Please visit Budget 101 to learn more.
- Our system’s key priorities and investments are all focused on moving BCPS forward. It’s important that we recognize the impact of enrollment and increased costs on the system budget.
- We have prepared ourselves for what we know will be another challenging fiscal landscape for BCPS and other Maryland school systems given the continued expansion and implementation of the Blueprint and anticipated lower federal, state, and local revenue.
- Budgeting elements in place for FY 27 include: no new initiatives unless state mandated, central office and non- school-based positions hiring freeze, review of all contracts for renegotiation/ reduction/elimination, and zero-based budgeting.
- Over the past two fiscal years, BCPS has made more than $168 million in reductions and eliminated hundreds of non-school based positions to address budget shortfalls, including 69 supervisory level positions.
- Dr. Rogers will submit a balanced proposed budget to the Board of Education for its deliberation. Some key things to note about the proposed budget:
- It will be aligned to the county government target of a 2 percent increase above what we received in FY 26.
- The proposed budget will include the full Year 3 compensation package for Team BCPS staff.
- To ensure the budget is balanced, meets the county target, and includes the compensation package, we will include additional reductions.
- Dr. Rogers is committed to working with the Board of Education, county executive Klausmeier, members of the county council and county delegation on this budget. Sustaining our forward progress will require continued investments in the priority focus areas that we know are working for our system. These investments will yield positive results not just for our system, but also for the county and the state.
Second Marking Period Reminders
- December 5 marked the midpoint of the second marking period. We encourage parents and caregivers to review the grade and attendance reports that are sent every Friday via Focus and Schoology and connect with your child’s school for any needed support. Consistent attendance is key to student success! Students are expected to attend all classes on time each day, actively participating in discussions and activities and completing assignments. School is in session until December 23 and we will be ready to welcome students back on January 5!
- The BCPS cell phone use and expectations plan for 2025-26 is in full effect. Cell phone use is prohibited during the instructional day in all BCPS elementary and secondary schools other than for school-sanctioned uses or times. We are pleased to report that students are adhering to our policy and are focused and highly engaged in the classroom. Let’s keep this positive momentum going, Team BCPS!
- BCPS will continue to utilize a multi-tiered approach for managing school safety and providing welcoming learning environments that foster positive student growth.
- School safety is a shared responsibility, and when we work together and commit to upholding our roles, we create safe and welcoming spaces where students can maximize learning and experience all that our schools have to offer. We know students are eagerly awaiting winter break and we want to encourage them to continue to adhere to all outlined rules and expectations in and out of the school building! Dangerous and disruptive behaviors will not be tolerated in our schools or on our buses.
- We want to wish all members of Team BCPS a healthy and happy winter break and holiday season! We have so much to look forward to in 2026 and we are encouraged by our forward progress and the dedication of our students, staff, families and stakeholders who are all working together to move student achievement and our system forward.