For Immediate Release: December 8, 2011
Contact: Jean Schlesinger MCCPTA Operating Budget Chair jeanschlesinger@verizon.net
Kristin Trible MCCPTA President president@mccpta.com 301-346-3463
Kristin Trible, President of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA), reacted today to the proposed FY 2013 Operating Budget announced by Superintendent Joshua P. Starr: "Recognizing the continued fiscal constraints under which we are operating, Dr. Starr's proposed budget is good for students, employees, and schools, and good for Montgomery County. The proposed budget protects the classroom from further cuts with no reductions to school-based staff. Our parents appreciate the Superintendent's focus on optimizing resources for community engagement, meaningful intervention for underachieving students, and professional development. As the demographics in our county continue to change, these priorities are all the more important. This budget also contains $8.1 million in efficiencies and reductions, on top of the $430 million in reductions made since FY 2009. During this same period of time, student enrollment has increased dramatically, and the percentages of students living at, or near poverty and needing language services have surged to unprecedented levels in our county. The combination of cuts and heightened needs is not sustainable.
Our concern remains that, despite these many challenges, this budget holds the local per pupil funding level at the reduced level set by the Council earlier this year. We hope, next year, to move beyond this low watermark and see effective supports for our students fully funded.
The ultimate goal for our county is to eliminate the predictability of student outcomes by race, ethnicity or socioeconomic factors, and to provide a challenging, 21st century education to each and every child. We appreciate the Superintendent's measured consideration of existing resources to achieve these goals. As such, MCCPTA supports this budget, and urges the County Executive and County Council to actively embrace and fully fund this budget."
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