School board gives first thoughts on FY25 budget priorities

Jillian Atelsek, The Frederick News-Post, Md.
Updated ·2 min read

Oct. 3—Bolstering resources for mental health and special education were among the priorities mentioned by Frederick County Board of Education members last week during their first discussion of the fiscal 2025 budget.

The discussion, which came during a work session Sept. 27, marked the kickoff to the upcoming budget season.

The board approved the timeline for the budget process, and each member spoke about what they'd like to see included in Frederick County Public Schools' next spending plan.

FCPS Budget Director Heather Clabaugh prefaced the discussion by outlining some of the district's largest and most important priorities, including accommodating enrollment growth and implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.

Board President Sue Johnson and members Nancy Allen, David Bass and Karen Yoho said they wanted to commit to implementing as many of the recommendations from a recent audit of the district's special education program.

The audit laid out about 50 recommended improvements to the way FCPS approaches special education, though board members and FCPS leaders have said full implementation will likely take several years.

Several members, including student representative Brooke Lieberman, said mental health resources should be an area of focus, too.

Johnson, Allen and board Vice President Dean Rose said they wanted to revisit the idea of installing cameras on school buses to penalize cars that speed past them.

Other proposals were more specific: Rose said he wanted to launch a flag football program for freshmen boys, decrying the board's 2015 decision to cut freshmen athletics, and member Rae Gallagher called to reinstate the Elevate, a summer program for academic enrichment.

The district will hold a virtual budget forum for members of the community on Nov. 29. FCPS Superintendent Cheryl Dyson is set to release her recommended budget on Jan. 8.

Below is an outline of board members' first stated priorities for the fiscal year 2025 budget:

Sue Johnson, president

— Mental health resources

— Academic rigor

— Cameras on school buses

— Continued funding for girls' flag football

Dean Rose, vice president

— Expanding summer programs

— Cameras on school buses

— Launching freshman boys' flag football teams

Nancy Allen

— Academic rigor, specifically reading programs

— Special education audit recommendations

— Cameras on school buses

— Camera pilot for special education classrooms

David Bass

— Special education audit recommendations

— Camera pilot for special education classrooms

— Expanding FCPS translation services

— Offering more classes in American Sign Language

— Increase the number of FCPS community liaisons by 10%

Rae Gallagher

— Create a multilingual trauma therapist position

— Elevate summer program

Karen Yoho

— Employee compensation

— Special education audit recommendations

Brooke Lieberman, student member

— Mental health resources

— More standardized test prep books for school libraries

Board member Jason Johnson was not present for the discussion.

A video of the discussion is available on BoardDocs.

Follow Jillian Atelsek on Twitter: @jillian_atelsek