The school board voted to approve a $3.32 billion operating budget for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) on Tuesday.
After the vote, parents of students in the school system’s virtual academy spoke out against the elimination of the academy, which according to MCPS is just one cutback due to a lack of funding for the budget.
The county council funded more than 99% of the school board’s request, however the budget is $30 million less than the board requested. According to MCPS, the cutbacks led to decisions like eliminating the Montgomery Virtual Academy, increasing class size guidelines, delaying expansion of the pre-kindergarten program, and reducing contractual services.
The budget is an increase of $147 million from the previous year’s budget.
