Board of Education President Michelle Corkadel and Superintendent George Arlotto released the following statements today regarding the Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal presented to the County Council by County Executive Steuart Pittman:
MRS. CORKADEL
“We are not in a place today that any of us envisioned, and I don’t envy the job the County Executive and his team had in putting this budget together. It is crystal clear, however, that they did about as much as they possible could to support our school system and our children while still addressing other critical needs throughout the county.”
DR. ARLOTTO
“The County Executive has been very open and up front about the difficult choices that were necessary in this budget, and he should be applauded for the hard work that has clearly gone into allocating constrained resources across our county. The funding of a step increase for our teachers and other employees as well as sorely needed general and special education teaching positions will serve us well in the coming year and help us bridge to what will hopefully be a brighter economy a year from now. In addition, the allocation of 57 positions to open Crofton High School next fall fulfills a three-decade quest and a need for us for more seats at the high school level.
“The key to navigating a difficult period like this lies in the relationships of the people doing the work. We are incredibly fortunate to have built positive relationships with the County Executive and County Council, and I am confident those relationships will sustain us as we work together over the next year.”