By Patricia O’Neill
Board President
Superintendent Joshua Starr has submitted his Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Operating Budget recommendation to the Board. Over the next few months, the Board will thoroughly review the superintendent’s budget proposal and will gather public feedback from the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) community.
Two public hearings will held on Thursday, January 8, and Thursday, January 15, and are an important part of the budget process. Both of the hearings begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the auditorium of the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. These hearings give us a chance to get feedback and ideas from those who are most impacted by the budget—our students, staff, and community members. After the public hearings, we will hold two work sessions on Tuesday, January 20, and Thursday, January 22.
Based on the input we receive from the public and our own line-by-line review of Dr. Starr’s proposal, we will ask MCPS staff dozens of questions about the budget and consider revisions and additions to Dr. Starr’s recommendation. Working together, we will approve a final operating budget request in February, which will be submitted to the Montgomery County Executive and the Montgomery County Council for consideration.
I hope you will stay informed and involved in the budget process. Those wishing to testify at our public hearings should call the Board of Education office at 301-279-3617 beginning Monday, December 15 at 9 a.m. Individuals will receive 3 minutes to provide remarks and will be asked to submit copies of their comments in advance. Learn more about these public hearings and other ways to provide input on the Board’s website.
A budget is a reflection of our community’s values. Please make sure your voice is heard and your values are represented in this importance process.
