Operating Budget

Operating Budget Committee: Supports the advocacy of MCCPTA-established priorities on operating budget issues, including representing MCCPTA at MCPS budget meeting. Priorities reflect input provided by PTA leadership from each area of the county as voiced during summer area meetings, as well as the collective input of the MCCPTA Board of Directors and MCCPTA Delegates.

CLICK HERE to read Superintendent Starr's message from January 4, 2013 on his Recommended FY 2014 Operating Budget

CLICK HERE to review the MCCPTA Operating Budget Priorities Resolution, adopted October 23, 2012

Schedule of MCCPTA Budget Testimony, April 2013

Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville
ONE VOICE

Tuesday April 9, 7 PM
Wootton Cluster Richard Edelman

Wednesday April 10, 1:30 PM
Kennedy Cluster Frances Frost

Wednesday April 10, 7 PM
MCCPTA President Janette Gilman
Sherwood Cluster Tina Velazquez
Seneca Valley Cluster Kevin David
Wheaton Cluster Shebra Evans
Damascus Cluster Jennifer McDonald
Walter Johnson Cluster Mary Cassell
Churchill Cluster Ruth Magin
B-CC Cluster Lauri Rosen
Poolesville Cluster Dawn Albert
Magruder Cluster Martha Schaerr
Einstein Cluster Scott Harper

Thursday April 11, 1:30 PM
Whitman Cluster Vicki Herson
Springbrook Cluster Ann Coletti
Gaithersburg Cluster Laurie Augustino

Thursday April 11, 7 PM
Clarksburg Cluster Seenu Suvarna
Northwest Cluster Beth Kennington
Richard Montgomery Cluster Jennifer Young
Blair Cluster Shruti Bhatnagar
Watkins Mill Cluster Sumbal Sheldon
Rockville Cluster Amy Hartley
Northwood Cluster Ricky Ford

ONE VOICE POSTCARD CAMPAIGN

MCCPTA is asking our 190 PT(S)As and nearly 44,000 members to act together in “one voice” on behalf of our students by participating in a countywide postcard campaign. To garner support from our County Council for funding for education, we ask all members to fill out a postcard and let our local elected officials know we support students and are part of one voice! Postcards were distributed at our February Delegates Assembly; additional postcards are available from the MCCPTA office which can be reached via email at office@mccpta.com.

So that the majority of our parents can participate, we have prepared instruction sheets in several major languages. Download them here and use them at your school!

Chinese Version - One Voice Campaign
English Version - One Voice Campaign
French Version - One Voice Campaign
Korean Version - One Voice Campaign
Spanish Version - One Voice Campaign
Vietnamese Version - One Voice Campaign

MCCPTA Operating Budget Testimony before the Board of Education

Thursday January 17, 2013, 8 PM
Churchill Melanie Twomey
Poolesville Donna Lowell
Richard Montgomery Jennifer Young
Rockville Dylan Pressman

Blair Kathy Larin
Einstein Scott Harper
Kennedy Frances Frost
Northwood Yolanda Mazyck
Watkins Mill Sumbal Sheldon

Wheaton Shebra Evans
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Lauren Rosem
Whitman Elise Brown Hughes
Walter Johnson Mary Cassell

Thursday January 10, 2013, 7 PM
MCCPTA Janette Gilman
Clarksburg Seenu Suvarna
Northwest Beth Kennington
Quince Orchard Paul Morrison
Seneca Valley Kevin David

Blake Written Testimony (only)
Paint Branch Written Testimony (only)
Springbrook Written Testimony (only)
Sherwood Tina Velazquez

Damascus
Gaithersburg Carrie Bohrer
Magruder
Wootton Richard Edelman

Superintendent Starr Announces Recommended FY 2014 Operating Budget

December 11, 2012

The proposed FY 2014 operating budget announced by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Joshua P. Starr maintains programs and services vital to the success of every student in Montgomery County, restores critical positions cut at the height of the economic downturn, and lays solid groundwork for the future. Fiscally lean and responsible, the recommendation responds to key parent concerns, with targeted initiatives providing support for State-mandated curriculum changes--particularly for math--and ensuring the safety of student athletes. The recommended budget is fully consistent with the Operating Budget Priorities endorsed by the MCCPTA Delegates Assembly, comprised of representatives from the county's 191 PTA/PTSAs and county PTA leaders, in October 2012.

CLICK HERE for a summary, video, and detailed information regarding the proposed FY 2014 budget.

MCCPTA President Janette Gilman stated, "Dr. Starr delivered on his promise to look critically at our school system, assess strengths and areas for improvement, and spend taxpayer dollars carefully. His recommended budget recognizes the county's fiscal realities along with the needs of our children, and balances cuts and realignments with a very modest increase in spending, just $10 million, or less than one-half of one percent over MOE. Parent concerns on mathematics instruction are addressed head on by the proposed increase in teacher development and staff positions; and parents long concerned about the arts will be heartened by the addition of several positions for instrumental music teachers."

MCCPTA Health and Safety Committee Co-Chair and Treasurer Susan Burkinshaw noted, "in line with CDC recommendations, Dr. Starr has included funding for baseline concussion testing for all MCPS high school athletes. This is a huge step in proactively acknowledging the importance of baseline testing to help identify traumatic brain injuries when they occur, protecting kids from getting back in the game until their injuries are healed, and preventing long-term damage to student athletes from high school sports injuries."

Shebra Evans, MCCPTA Vice President Programs and a Wheaton Cluster Coordinator remarked, "The Operating Budget process affords our school system the opportunity to recommit each year to all our students. The commitment ensures that our programs are successful in meeting the educational objectives for all students. The process also ensures our students can compete - not just with other students in the county or in the state - but globally."

CLICK HERE for Superintendent Starr's memo to the Board of Education on the FY2013 operating budget, and the impact of potential Sequestration
CLICK HERE for an article on the Impact of Parent Engagement on School Budget Issues

WHAT IS MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT (MOE)

MOE--Maintenance of Effort--involves Maryland state law that sets the floor for local school spending. MOE laws have been in place since 1984; last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed a revised law covering MOE. For a description of the law, and its provisions for waivers, CLICK HERE to read a letter by Maryland State Senator Nancy King