Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Bernard Bragen, Jr. presented the MCPS FY 2025-2026 proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors during the BOS’s Monday, Feb. 24 meeting.
The proposal requests a 10% increase in funds from the county than requested in the previous year.
Joining Bragen at the podium was Chief Financial Officer Angie Bland, along with fellow office member, Trevor Bennett. The trio fielded questions from supervisors following Bragen’s presentation.
“So that’s a $ 6.6 million increase, represents a 10% increase from what we were given last year, not of the overall budget, of the portion that comes from the county,” Bragen said.
The top budget items discussed during the meeting are a three percent salary increase for all staff employees, a change in salary guides to 15 steps, no increases in employee health benefits’ contributions, and a minimum wage increase to $16 an hour.
“You shouldn’t be able to make more money working at Wal-Mart or working at Hardees’ than working in our schools and trying to help us achieve that laudable mission in the beginning,” Bragen said. “So, we landed on making sure at least the lowest of our employees are making $16 an hour, which I would argue that you can’t live on that in this county.”
Bragen also proposes a raise for the MCPS board members that would be “modest,” which the members have not seen in recent years.
Free meals through the nutrition program for all MCPS students is included for the next fiscal year as well, receiving warm support from Supervisor Anthony Grafsky.
“I love the inclusion of the school nutrition program and providing those meals to all students across the county,” Grafsky said.
Supervisor Steve Fijalkowski expressed concern over free breakfast and lunch for all students though. Fijalkowski said, “Why now? Why do we need that now?”
Bragen responded that some students who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch could be provided with the proposed nutrition program. Additionally, students who might qualify for free lunches and do not feel comfortable in completing the forms could also benefit from the program. Six schools in the county are currently receiving free meals for their students due to meeting the requirements for the overall percentage of students in need, according to Bragen. These six schools are not included in the proposed nutrition program for next fiscal year.
Two budget reductions are also proposed to be implemented in the next fiscal year. Eliminating the Dean of Students position would be one reduction. Bragen sais the posotion was useful during a transition period in the school year but is now no longer needed. Additionally, due to reduced elementary enrollment, which is “slightly declining over time,” Bragen said, less elementary school teacher positions would be favorable while still maintaining student to teacher ratio.
Grafsky asked Bragen for current numbers on elementary school teacher to student ratios and what is trending in strands across the area.
“Right now, our pupil to teacher ratio for this year right now, we have 224 elementary teachers, it’s around 17.84%,” Bragen said. “If we don’t do anything next year, with our projected enrollment, our pupil to teacher ratio is going to be 15.26%, with the same number of teachers.”
Bragen went on to say that a demographic study had been completed by the county schools about a year ago, projecting a slight decline in enrollment. However, Bragen also said that this decline is not projected to continue and should level out in coming years.
Supervisor April DeMotts reminded everyone that further discussion on the proposed budget would happen during a scheduled joint meeting on Mar. 17.
