SALISBURY – Officials in Wicomico County voiced concerns over accountability and school perception in a budget work session this week.
On Wednesday, members of the Wicomico County Board of Education came before the Wicomico County Council to make their case for additional school funding in fiscal year 2019.
The proposed $151 million budget includes $43 million in maintenance of effort funding and a one-time appropriation of $750,000 for the Wicomico County Board of Education.
This year, however, the school system is seeking an additional $5.7 million from the county to establish universal pre-K, improve the graduation rate, and attract and retain a strong workforce.
Superintendent Donna Hanlin told the council the school system’s three priorities for the coming fiscal year focus on “moving the education system forward.”
“I believe I was hired to lead the school system, not to manage the status quo,” she said. “That’s what I want to do, but I need your help.”
Hanlin said the implementation of a universal pre-K system would provide families access to a full-day program and benefit the community. She noted that nearly 76 percent of students in Wicomico County are considered an at-risk population, which includes students in special education, students who are English language learners and students who receive free and reduced meals.
“We need to be working with these students as early as we possibly can,” she said.
School officials said they are asking for $1.3 million in the coming fiscal year to launch the first phase of its pre-K initiative within existing facility space. In the future, they said the school system would seek an additional $3.2 million to install modular buildings that will house pre-K classes.
Councilman Marc Kilmer asked how the school system would measure the success of its pre-K initiative, should it be implemented.
“How do we know, if this is put in place, that it will achieve the goal?” he said. “We want to hold your feet to the fire.”
Hanlin explained the school system would use school readiness assessment data and reading levels through third grade to determine the success of the program. She said this year’s kindergarten readiness levels in Wicomico County were 46 percent.
“We will be monitoring those results as we move forward,” she said.
Hanlin said the school system’s second priority for the coming fiscal year is to improve the graduation rate. She noted that in 2017, 84 percent of students in Wicomico County graduated high school, making it the second-lowest graduation rate in the state of Maryland.
“Our graduation rate, while it is improving, is not where it needs to be,” she said. “We need to be graduating more students. My goal would be ultimately 90 percent or above.”
Hanlin said several initiatives, from behavioral, social and emotional support systems to signature academies and additional curriculum, would better engage students in learning. She said the initiatives call for additional staffing and materials.
Hanlin said the third and final priority in fiscal year 2019 calls for a 1 percent cost of living increase for teachers and administrators and a 1.5 percent step increase for classified employees.
“It’s the cost of doing business,” she said.
Councilman Joe Holloway said money would help to attract employees, but argued more needed to be done to support teachers. He noted that some teachers have left the school system over student discipline and low morale.
“The root of your problem is there is no support from the administration,” he said.
Hanlin said that the school system was working to address those issues.
“To some extent you are making some generalizations,” she said. “That’s not how all teachers in our school system feel.”
School Board President Don Fitzgerald addressed Holloway’s claims.
“If we have a mistake going on in our system let’s address it, but don’t make it look bad and be negative,” he said. “Let’s be positive.”
Kilmer defended Holloway’s comments. He said that many community members, including those at the public budget hearing earlier this month, have stated their concerns regarding the public school system.
“We’re a big believer in the quality of public schools, but there’s an impression out there that’s negative about Wicomico County Public Schools,” he said. “We heard that during the public hearing. I think we need to be clear about where negativity is coming from.”
Following the discussion, members of the school board urged the council to consider the school system’s requests.
“The money is there,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s whether you want to spend it or not. Don’t give up on these kids.”
Board member Gene Malone said Wednesday’s discussion was the first step in addressing the school system’s issues.
“Throwing more money may not fix it … but we’re sending the message that we are trying to improve the system,” he said. “To really make a difference, you sometimes have to go out of the box and do something different and that’s why we are asking for what we did.”
Wednesday’s work session with the school board and other departments was just one of many scheduled in the coming week. The fiscal year 2019 budget will be adopted in June.
