Montgomery School Superintendent Seeking a 4.5% Funding Bump
County Budgets / Education
Montgomery School Superintendent Seeking a 4.5% Funding Bump

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Jack Smith announced the recommended $2.8 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2021. This is a recommended increase of 4.5% from FY 2020. In each county, a three-set process develops school funding levels. The School Board superintendent and staff develop a preliminary request, the Board of Education refines it and submits it to the county, and the county must weigh that request against other agency requests and the available…

Comments Off on Montgomery School Superintendent Seeking a 4.5% Funding Bump
December 24, 2019
Possible Change in Allegany School Board Replacement Process
County News / Education / General Assembly News
Possible Change in Allegany School Board Replacement Process

Senator George Edwards (Garrett, Allegany, Washington Counties) announced that he plans to submit a bill giving the Allegany County Board of Commissioners the authority to fill vacant board of education seats. Currently, when a seat on the Board of Education is vacant, the replaced is appointed by the Governor. From Times-News coverage: “In Maryland, all counties are different. In Garrett County, the county commissioners make the appointment. So we want to massage it a little bit…

Comments Off on Possible Change in Allegany School Board Replacement Process
December 19, 2019
County News / Education
Pending Court Cases Could Impact Education

From transgender student rights to DACA, pending court cases could impact the future of public education in the United States. Houston ISD vs. Texas Education Agency Days after voters elected new school board members in Houston, the Texas Education Agency announced a state takeover due to Houston ISD's "inability to address long-standing academic deficiencies." Plaintiffs sued the state agency for violating the Texas and U. S. constitutions, as well as the Voting Rights Act of…

Comments Off on Pending Court Cases Could Impact Education
December 19, 2019
New Report on Transportation and Health Equity
Health and Human Services / Transportation and Public Works
New Report on Transportation and Health Equity

Smart Growth America conducted a field scan that identified six areas representing the most pressing systemic challenges to health equity facing our transportation system in the United States. Transportation can impact health in major ways, both positively and negatively. The 2019 Smart Growth America field scan report deep dives into each of the six biggest challenges to health equity facing transportation, the tools to address these problems, and the necessity of all stakeholders working together…

Comments Off on New Report on Transportation and Health Equity
December 17, 2019
Skilled Labor Shortage in MD Costing Millions
County News / Economic Development / Transportation and Public Works
Skilled Labor Shortage in MD Costing Millions

Shortages of skilled laborers in Maryland are causing some construction projects to cost millions of dollars more than original estimates. Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation President Bob Ayudkovic believes that these shortages can be traced back to 2008 and the Great Recession. There is a high demand for skilled laborers but not high supply, leading to heightened wages, adjustment to project scopes, and trade package rebidding. Many large contractors supplying mechanical, electrical and…

Comments Off on Skilled Labor Shortage in MD Costing Millions
December 16, 2019
School Nurse Shortage in the U.S.
County News / Education
School Nurse Shortage in the U.S.

According to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), in 2018, more than 60% of schools did not employ a full- or part-time nurse. Tighter school budgets show institutions investing money in more teachers over nurses, but NASN's President, Laurie Combe, suggests that having full-nurses on staff can save money in the long run like as seen in Massachusetts. From District Administration: “When a nurse isn’t present, the care of students is left to unlicensed…

Comments Off on School Nurse Shortage in the U.S.
December 13, 2019
Preliminary Recommendations for School Construction Funding Released
County News / School Construction and Capital Budgets
Preliminary Recommendations for School Construction Funding Released

The Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC) released the Preliminary Report of the Workgroup on the Assessment and Funding of School Facilities. In a letter to Governor Hogan, Speaker Jones, and President Miller, Dr. Karen Salmon requested the extension of the Workgroup for one further year in order to fully respond to the statutory charge. Dr. Salmon, the Chairperson of the IAC and Chair of the Workgroup, requested the extension as there has been a…

Comments Off on Preliminary Recommendations for School Construction Funding Released
December 11, 2019
Maryland Officials Work Together to Stop Roadway Fatalities
MACo Events / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
Maryland Officials Work Together to Stop Roadway Fatalities

At the 2019 MACo Winter Conference session, “No More Deaths: Vision Zero and Maryland’s Mission for Roadway Safety,” attendees learned about the issue of traffic congestion in Maryland and what options and solutions can elevate the state and our counties. State, Regional, and County officials all came together at #MACoCon to exploring the important relationship all levels of government have in stopping roadway fatalities in Maryland. Delegate Palakovich Carr moderated the panel and was the main…

Comments Off on Maryland Officials Work Together to Stop Roadway Fatalities
December 10, 2019
County Officials Consider How to Combat Maryland Congestion
MACo Events / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
County Officials Consider How to Combat Maryland Congestion

At the 2019 MACo Winter Conference session, “Contemplating Our Congestion Crisis,” attendees learned about the issue of traffic congestion in Maryland and what options and solutions can elevate the state and our counties. The Session was a deep dive into teleworking, complete streets, and mass transit. Travis Johnston, Director of Locally Owned Transit at the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), started off the panel by explaining a few of the Demand Management…

Comments Off on County Officials Consider How to Combat Maryland Congestion
December 10, 2019
County Officials Explore School Construction Funding at #MACoCon
Crofton Area High School (photo courtesy of Anne Arundel County Public Schools
MACo Events / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Winter Conference
County Officials Explore School Construction Funding at #MACoCon

At the 2019 MACo Winter Conference session, “Change Order: Is a Shift in School Construction Funding on the Way?,” attendees learned about the Workgroup on the Assessment and Funding of School Facilities, the recommendations that came out of it, and what the 2020 Maryland Legislative Session may hold for the Build to Learn Act. Perry Willis, Executive Director of Support Services for Cecil County Public Schools started off the discussion by going through the background of…

Comments Off on County Officials Explore School Construction Funding at #MACoCon
December 10, 2019
← Newer Posts
Older Posts →

© 2019 All rights reserved

Close Menu