Howard County School System Presents Proposed Operating Budget

Howard County Public School Sysytem Superintendent Sydney Cousin has proposed a fiscal year 2013 operating budget of just slightly more than $697 million, a 1.9 percent increase ($13.3 million) over the current budget.

The budget proposal was presented to the Board of Education Thursday.

"First and foremost, this budget protects the classroom by maintaining current class sizes, adding teaching positions to address enrollment growth and funding instructional resources," Cousin said in his message that accompanies online budget documents. "While this budget includes no new initiatives, it does focus existing funds on those programs that will ensure we maintain our momentum toward world-class status."

School officials anticipate an enrollment increase of more than 800 students next year, and budget requests reflect that prediction.

The FY2013 budget proposal includes funding for:

• 68.9 growth positions

• 4.8 positions to continue the World Language Pilot program in two elementary and two middle schools

• One teaching position for the Homeland Security Academy

• One Hispanic achievement liaison position

• Transportation for the FIRST robotics program

• Technology upgrades and improvements (3.3 million; previously funded through the capital budget)

• Computers for high school Career Centers

• A one-half-step increase for employees effective June 30, 2012

The Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the budget proposal Jan. 31.

School board budget work sessions will be held Feb. 2, 7, 14 and 16, and the group is scheduled to adopt its FY 2013 budget request Feb. 21, according to the school system's budget process timeline.

The County Council and school board will continue to work on the budget proposal until final adoption in May.

Citizens can make comments at the public hearing, or send written comments to board members to Howard County Board of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042.

Comments can also be sent via email to Budget1@hcpss.org.