Cory Kefauver
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore school system could lose upwards of $100 million if the official enrollment declines as much as predicted, a school official said.
The problem stems from the coronavirus because many students have been absent from school this fall semester. For some students this is due to poor or no internet connection. Other students have dropped out, gone over to homeschooling, or transferred to private school.
“Most of the budget is people,” said Brandon Oland, spokesperson for Baltimore County Public Schools. “That’s what we stand to lose the most, the people.”
Oland said that until the enrollment numbers are official no decisions will be made.
“We won’t know anything until the official numbers come out, but a decrease in enrollment will certainly lead to a decrease in funding,” Oland said.
Oland said there is a growing concern in Baltimore County that more and more parents will choose private school as an option for their children’s education.
“I would send my kids to private school if I could afford it,” said Yvonne Henry, a parent of a Baltimore County public school student.
Henry said she has been getting little information about schools reopening and the thought of reduced funding on top of it all is overwhelming.
Photo by Yvonne Henry. Used with permission
Kristi Schulman has one child in the private school system and one in public school.
“My preschooler has been doing in person learning and it has been a blessing,” Schulman said.
Schulman said that while her preschooler has been going to school in person there has been no positive COVID-19 cases at her school.
Schulman tried to get her 6-year-old into private school as well but was waitlisted.
“I have been on the waitlist for two different private schools,” Schulman said. “I wanted both my kids in private school for in person learning.”
Oland said that Baltimore County has numerous options for private schooling. Since their budget is not dependent on the government, they have been able to put protocols in place for safe returns to the classroom.
BCPS received a “maintenance of effort fund,” which means that the county is obligated to fund the school system at a minimum rate. This move was made to guarantee funding for the school system throughout the pandemic.
“Thankfully, we’re still working right now,” Oland said. “This has been the smallest budget increase in years.”
Oland said it will be expensive to reopen schools safely.
“We aren’t in buildings yet, but we will be starting to shortly and there will be health protocols to follow that are not cheap,” Oland said.
Baltimore County parents are fed up with the uncertainty.
“So far the only thing I have heard is ‘resuming classes in February.’ It’s frustrating,” Henry said. “I am glad my kids are home and safe because I do not want to send them back to school if it isn’t going to be safe.”
Oland said that Gov. Larry Hogan has been asking for federal funds for months and that could dictate what happens with the budget.
“Larry Hogan has been pounding the table asking for funds to no avail. We are looking to the federal government for help and so far, we have yet to see any,” Oland said.
Many government organizations have looked to the federal government for assistance and have seen no help.
Parents, however, are not as willing to wait for help from the federal government.
“My kids will all be in private school if things continue the way they are going,” Schulman said. “Tons of kids are being left behind with the online model and most parents won’t wait around for the school system to fix these problems.”
Schulman said the lack of information has been hard on working families like hers.
“My kids go to crowded schools so if they’re going back it needs to be safe,” Henry said. “Until then we’re stuck.”
Oland remains optimistic that schools will get the help they need, but it is a cautious optimism.