A hastily called emergency meeting ended an impasse that began six months ago after it was learned local school funding anticipated from the state of Maryland had been drastically cut. In the end, Calvert government’s allocation to the county’s public school system totals $164 million for fiscal 2025, a $10 million increase from the current year.
Maryland’s open meetings act states, “A meeting should not be held on short notice if the matters are not urgent.”
After two commissioners’ meetings, which attempted to wrap up the issue of the county’s allocation to the public school system, the two sides finally agreed to meet in the same room and under the public’s eye, although many members of the public may not have been aware.
The June 12 meeting began at 8:30 p.m., only a few hours after it was announced. The meeting was life-streamed and officers of the school system’s employee unions were in the hearing room.
As Andraé Townsel, superintendent of schools, and Commissioner President Earl F. “Buddy” Hance (R) reported in January, state officials cut $22.5 million from Calvert school system’s anticipated funding. Maryland budget officials cited Calvert’s wealth as a result of the presence of the Cove Point liquefaction natural gas facility in Lusby.
The facility, which was initially owned by Dominion Energy, is now operated by Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
The original payment in lieu of taxes agreement between the county and the facility’s operators has expired and has not been renegotiated.
Additionally, the commissioners, who were collectively taken aback last year when Townsel asked for an additional money for fiscal 2024 that was $26 million above the state’s maintenance of effort, called for an audit of the school system’s finances. That audit is now underway.
With severe cuts looming, Townsel released a long list of potential parings that would balance the budget but threatened to result in job and program losses.
Adding to the angst were the protracted contract negotiations for the Calvert Education Association and Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff plus identifying the funding needed for the state-mandated Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan.
The June 12 session had its dramatic moments, with elected officials using strong rhetoric to criticize each other for their handling of the budget process.
“We didn’t cause this and we’re down to our last penny,” Antoine White, board of education president, said. “We do care about the students and staff. You guys are elected to do the same.”
White was critical of the June 4 motion adopting the county’s fiscal 2025 budget, which placed fiduciary restrictions on the current board of education. The restrictive language was modified by a majority of the commissioners June 11.
“That motion that was put on the floor [on June 4], that was just ridiculous,” White said. “I don’t care what letters are behind your names, that made absolutely no sense. I’m glad we’re sitting here. It shows it’s important to everyone. We’re talking about contracts that need to be renewed now.”
After Commissioner Mark C. Cox Sr. (R) made the motion to set the county’s fiscal 2025 allocation at $162 million, Townsel was hesitant to affirmatively state that would avert layoffs.
That did not sit well with Commissioner Catherine M. Grasso (R), who had made the June 4 motion and had voted opposed to the following week’s modification.
“This is the most piss-poor budget process I have ever seen,” Grasso declared. “This is bush league. You’re going to get your money.”
Cox’s motion was amended, rescinding the commissioners’ previous actions of June 4 and 11, setting the school system allocation at $164 million for fiscal 2025. The school budget will be balanced using $20 million of the board of education’s existing fund balance plus $1.5 million from the county’s other post employment benefits account.
The county commissioners also wanted etched in stone an understanding that the entities’ chief financial officers will work together on budget matters. It was also made clear that there are to be no layoffs within the school system.
The commissioners’ final vote was unanimous.
During the emergency meeting’s public comment period, school board member Dawn Balinski, who did not attend the meeting in person, said the additional $10 million “should have come from Cove Point.”
During the school board’s meeting the following day, Balinski, who is not seeking re-election this year, declared, “We have to fix the Cove Point problem.”
Balinski urged Calvert’s leaders to “create talking points” to make the case for additional funding.
Other speakers at the June 12 meeting by phone were critical of the commissioners.
“Why is the budget going up is a disingenuous question,” Mill Creek Middle School teacher Chelsea Gallihugh said. “You know the Blueprint is unfunded.”
“I think this is a self-made emergency,” Joseph Cormier of Owings said.
Amanda McGrath, a resident and parent, said the commissioners “chose to make this a pony show, berating the board. There’s the money and there’s the disrespect.”
Of those in the room, Christina Harris, Calvert Elementary School principal, offered thanks that the budget had been finalized satisfactorily.
“We are all vested in this,” Harris said. “We have more social, emotional needs. We do have schools that have higher levels of poverty. We do have students who have behavioral struggles, academic struggles. If we strip our schools of our administrators, teachers, support staff, we are not going to be able to provide our students with everything we need.”
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