Commissioner Rothschild Suggests 'Thinking Outside the Box' to Fund Education

Carroll County Commissioner Richard Rothschild, a proponent of funding Carroll County Public Schools at the minimum allowed by state law, offered "creative" ways to fund education at a recent meeting.

In a recent open meeting of the Board of Carroll County Commissioners, Commissioners, Richard Rothschild suggested thinking outside the box in an effort to reach a compromise in funding education. At a commissioner-hosted education forum Monday night, approximately 700 people came out to weigh in on the topic of education funding in Carroll County. Commissioners Richard Rothschild and Robin Frazier presented their position that education funding should not increase when student enrollment is declining. The two have advocated for funding Carroll County Public Schools at Maintenance of Effort (MOE), the minimum allowed by state law, in FY14.  In a Tuesday night board of commissioners meeting following Monday's education forum, Rothschild …

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Kym Byrnes

9:24 am on Friday, March 15, 2013

Sorry guys, someone else was managing my site over the weekend and I did not see John's lunch date and time until Bonnie's comment just showed up. In the future, please shoot me an email at kym.byrnes@patch.com - I'm not always the one moderating comments.   more ›

Citizens Demand Full Funding of Education Budget at Commissioner's Forum

Hundreds turned out for the Carroll County Commissioner's forum at Carroll Community College Monday night.

An overwhelming number of the several dozen people who spoke at the Commissioner's education forum Monday evening urged the Board of Carroll County Commissioners to fully fund the education budget.  The Board of Education is asking the board of commissioners for a one percent increase in funding over last year, which comes out to about $1.7 million, according to School Superintendent Stephen Guthrie who presented at the forum Monday night.  Commissioners Richard Rothschild and Robin Frazier presented "the other side of the coin," suggesting that it would be fiscally irresponsible to fund the education budget as requested by the Board of Education.  Their presentation focused on the fact that student enrollment is declining and is projected…

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School Superintendent Says Proposed Budget 'By No Means Represents What We Really Need'

The proposed FY14 school budget includes an additional $1.7 million from county government.

At Wednesday's regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting, School Superintendent Stephen Guthrie presented his proposed FY14 budget, which includes cutting 20.5 custodial positions and asking the county commissioners for a one percent funding increase. Guthrie said that the costs for state and federal mandates coupled with inflation make it difficult to balance the budget when revenues are not also increasing. "This is not what I think we need," Guthrie said. "This is what we are lacking ... these are the mandates that we are not addressing." The proposed budget includes $2.6 million in spending reductions. Guthrie's proposed FY14 operating budget totals $330,214,129. According to Guthrie, inflationary expenses that include employee …

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Letter to the Editor

Commissioner Howard Clarifies Position on Closing Schools, Education Funding

Commissioner Doug Howard makes his position clear in response to an article posted on Patch yesterday.

It appeared from the Patch coverage that it was not clear that I am opposed to the ultimatum being given to the Board of Education with regards to school closing or “maintenance of effort”. I was being critical of that approach. If I was not clear in the way it was stated, I am in favor of the facilities study being done, but not for the pre-ordained purpose of determining to close a school. I am also against “maintenance of effort” funding. I believe the $164 million level that was set with last year’s budget for FY14 is appropriate. And, while I am interested in seeing the ideas that come from the facilities survey, I am not in favor of closing schools just based on available seats. To make such a costly and disruptive move should only …

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