Baltimore City school board approves $1.62B budget with boost from Maryland ‘Blueprint’ funding

Baltimore Metropolis public colleges are planning to make use of a large infusion of state funds subsequent yr to rent extra employees, broaden arts and sports activities programming and supplant some federal pandemic aid grants.

The board of metropolis college commissioners on Tuesday accredited a $1.62 billion funds for the 2022-23 educational yr, which features a staggering 16% spending improve over final yr utilizing new cash tied to the landmark schooling reform referred to as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. If ratified, the varsity system that serves about 77,000 kids will obtain an extra $180 million for working bills and $50 million in restricted grants subsequent yr.

Commissioners made no important modifications to the administration’s proposed funds earlier than voting 6-1 to ship it to Baltimore Metropolis Council for ratification. Commissioner Durryle Brooks voted in opposition to the measure, citing that the funds ought to make investments extra in psychological well being helps for college kids.

Directors say a lot of the cash goes straight to colleges who could use it to scale back class sizes, rent extra employees and improve programming choices for college kids. Faculties with massive enrollments and better concentrations of poverty stand to obtain the most important sums of cash climbing into the tens of millions.

For instance, colleges like Digital Harbor Excessive and Patterson Excessive, in addition to Pimlico Elementary/Center and The Belair-Edison College, a public constitution elementary, every stand to obtain $4 million in new cash subsequent yr. One elementary college — public constitution KIPP Concord Academy — stands to obtain an additional $6 million.

Metropolis college leaders are giving colleges steering to prioritize prolonged studying packages, tutoring, enhance college local weather and tradition, arts and enrichment, athletics and psychological well being helps.

The upcoming educational yr introduced an uncommon problem for system leaders, who needed to consider shifting income sources together with the state’s Blueprint plan and federal COVID aid {dollars}. And spending priorities have been additionally designed with fairness, the Blueprint reforms and pandemic restoration in thoughts.

“This has been a doozy of a yr in making ready the FY23 funds,” stated chief finance officer Chris Doherty to commissioners forward of their vote.

The priorities have been additionally primarily based partly on enter from stakeholders and a survey distributed to households, which generated 6,000 responses, in response to system CEO Sonja Santelises.

“We heard you,” Santelises stated in a press release. “We’re gratified that the aspirations in your kids mirror what Metropolis Faculties strives to attain: extra — and extra numerous — alternatives that mirror the distinctiveness and individuality of each scholar, and provides them the help they should succeed primarily based on who they’re and the way they be taught.”

Baltimore Metropolis Council has scheduled a listening to for the funds on June 2.