Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor met virtually Tuesday with members of the Montgomery County Taxpayers League, addressing issues ranging from the budget to special education to virtual learning.
Taylor stated he plans to start the budgeting process with a zero based budget and decide first what must be included, followed by what should be included. If there is still money available, then MCPS would add what it would like to see included.
“This is a big shift for us,” he said.
He pointed out that 90% of the operating budget concerns “how many people we employ and how much we pay them.”
Taylor plans to release a digital sheet of line-by-line items in the budget on the school district’s web site so that anyone could click on individual items to better understand them.
“I hope to demystify some of the line items in the budget,” he said.
He expressed hope that the state legislators would not pass any new mandates that are unfunded or partially funded. “That is a killer for us,” he said.
“If it’s the state’s idea to do something, then the state should bear the lion’s share of it,” Taylor said.
Taylor also touched on issues with staffing and programming for the special education community.
“Special education needs a complete overhaul on how we deliver services,” he said. “There is surplus money in the budget to hire more staff.”
However, he told taxpayer league members on the call that fixing special education “is going to be a very long and arduous journey.” He added, “This is a massive undertaking.”
He pointed to problems with understaffing, the way students are grouped, and communications with parents as some of the major issues in the special education program.
Parents are “exhausted,” he said, adding, “You need to know I hear and see” those involved with special education.
Aware that some people remain upset that the Virtual Academy program ended, Taylor said he sees “a value in virtual learning” and could see a program in which six or seven students participate in a virtual class.
Today at 7pm: MCTL Hosts Superintendent Taylor . We will discuss FY26 Operating Budget, MCPS OIG, EV Bus contract, School bus app update, legislative priorities. Register: https://t.co/tFaUC3222Q https://t.co/nPgFROgjkz
— Esther L. Wells (@EstherLWells) November 19, 2024
