Published on: Friday, January 13, 2012

By Cara Hedgepeth

Before Wednesday’s Prince George’s County Board of Education budget hearing, Laurel High School English and journalism teacher Robert Giuliani handed out copies of the school’s award-winning student newspaper. Giuliani was at the meeting to express his concerns about Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite Jr.’s proposed $1.6 billion budget — and how it might affect programs like his journalism course.

Wednesday’s meeting at Laurel High School was the first of three community forums this month regarding the superintendent’s proposed budget for the 2013 fiscal year. Hite, along with the school system’s Chief Financial Officer Matt Stanski, outlined plans for the budget before a group of about 30 Prince George’s County community members. Although the proposed revenue for 2013 looks nearly identical to that of 2012, there are some drastic changes in the decision-making process for how school budgets should be spent.

In the past, the county’s central office dictated the budget and determined how much money each school received using a formula based on student enrollment. This year, the county is adopting the Student-Based Budgeting model, which will grant more control to the individual school communities and allow principals to make some staffing decisions.

The Student-Based Budgeting system assigns a base amount of $3,077 to each student and then allots additional funds based on specific needs of each school’s specific population, including poverty and academic performance.

“No longer are we in the business of funding schools,” Stanski said. “We’re in the business of funding students.”

The system gives principals the freedom and the money to make hiring decisions they see fit for their own schools. But Giuliani, and others who voiced their concerns at the meeting, worry about a principal’s ability to prioritize, and fear some programs might disappear. While some academic specials like art and physical education are locked, meaning funds will still be allocated by the central office, others — like journalism — are dependent on each individual principal’s decision.

“(The budget) seems like another way to reduce electives further, and I’m afraid of that,” said Giuliani, who also teaches TV production at the school. “In high school, students should have more elective decisions. Journalism is an academic elective that helps students find a career…. I’m afraid it could get cut somehow.”

But Stanski said the new system will give the power to the schools, where it belongs.

“I shouldn’t be making these decisions,” he said. “Decisions need to be made closest to the schoolhouse.”

He also assured members of the community that county principals will be fully equipped to make decisions under the new system. All schools and principals have already begun training on the Student-Based Budgeting system and guidance will continue throughout the remainder of the school year. In addition, principals are encouraged to get input from staff members.

Prince George’s County residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns at two upcoming hearings. The first is Tuesday night at Gwynn Park High School and the second is the following Wednesday night at Cora L. Rice Elementary School. Both meetings are at 6:30.