FY25 General Fund Operating Budget
BOE Adopts
Board of Education Approves
FY2025 General Fund Operating Budget
The Washington County Board of Education approved its FY2025 General Fund Operating Budget. The budget, which includes operating expenses of $356,673,701 for the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, focuses on addressing the budget priorities adopted by the Board earlier this school year. It represents an increase of approximately 5% over the current fiscal year budget.
The Board’s budget priorities, and some of the items in the budget to address them, include:
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SALARY AND COMPENSATION TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN STAFF
Salaries and benefits offered to WCPS staff must remain competitive so the best teachers, education support personnel, and administrators can be employed to serve our students.
Allocation of $10.1 million to the salary resource pool, which would account for approximately a 5% salary enhancement for all WCPS employees
Schools must be safe and secure learning environments. By providing students with the mental health and behavioral supports they need, WCPS can address behavior disruptions during the school day and allow all students to focus on learning.
Additional 3.5 teachers and a paraprofessional for the InnovatED Learning Center
Additional positions to address student needs – registered behavior technician, speech language pathologists, special education teacher, contracted interpreters and paraprofessionals, a registered nurse
School Resource Officer contract increase (due to higher salaries)
Visitor Management System (checks databases to determine whether individuals should be allowed to visit schools)
The Blueprint for Maryland's Future is a state law designed to elevate Maryland's public education system. The Blueprint includes annual requirements all school districts must meet.
17 supplemental teachers (to support students struggling academically)
17 Multilingual Learner teachers
An additional Pre-K teacher
A Career and Technical Education Apprenticeship Coordinator
A Blueprint Coordinator
Technology service contracts
Like individuals and families, WCPS must address inflation and the rising cost of goods and services.
Increased utility costs
Increased software costs
New buses
The Washington County Board of County Commissioners will be hosting a hearing on the county’s budget, which includes an appropriation of funding for WCPS, on WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024 at 6:00PM.
The hearing will be held at the
Public Safety Training Center located at
18350 Public Safety Place, Hagerstown, MD.