The following e-mail was sent to PTA members from the Harford County Council PTA. A copy was provided to The Dagger for publication:
Parents:
As you know from earlier e-mails and the newspaper, the County Executive’s proposed budget has kept funding almost flat. The Board of Education faces a significant shortfall (over $23 million) and must now make cuts. Over 83% of the school budget is for salaries and benefits. Without full funding for Red Pump ES, existing staff may need to be moved to the new school. In addition, class sizes and staff reduction around the system will be looked at, as will all other line items in the existing budget.
You can review the budget at the hcps.org website. Parents need to communicate from where they believe reductions should be made. Please consider emailing the BOE members and/or speaking at next Monday’s BOE Meeting (April 11, 7:00 pm). Some difficult decisions will be made in the next week regarding our school system. Share your ideas–together we can find the best solutions for the children.
Here are the email addresses for the BOE and Superintendent Tomback:
Mark M. Wolkow, President: Mark.Wolkow@hcps.org
Leonard D. Wheeler: Leonard.Wheeler@hcps.org
Alysson L. Krchnavy: Alysson.Krchnavy@hcps.org
Don R. Osman: Donald.Osman@hcps.org
Thomas P. Evans: Thomas.Evans@hcps.org
Robert L. Frisch: Robert.Frisch@hcps.org
Francis F. “Rick” Grambo, III: Rick.Grambo@hcps.org
Caitlin R. Dooling: Caitlin.Dooling@hcps.org
Robert M. Tomback, Ph.D.: Robert.Tomback@hcps.org
Let the BOE know how you want them to spend YOUR MONEY!
Please let me know if you have any questions.
-Sandra Monaco-Burton
President, HCCPTA
People need to realize that their property value is affected by the quality of the school system. The same house who bring a much higher price in Howard County than in Prince George’s County.
Cutting money from the school system is reducing the value of your house.