Hogan's 'devastating' proposed education cuts draw strong responses on Lower Shore

The first day of the month started with $672 million in state budget cuts on the chopping block. 

The Board of Public Works moved to approve Gov. Larry Hogan's request to cut the budget by $413.17 million last Wednesday — a 2.07% reduction of the general fund as Maryland looks to offset massive revenue loss in a coronavirus pandemic. 

More than $200 million in cuts were rejected, taken off the body's agenda all together. 

These rejected cuts included education funding — $12.4 million in disparity grants, $71.8 million in teacher retirement contributions and nearly $25 million in other cuts — and pay raises for state employees. 

Hogan said the body consisting of himself, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp will need to come up with an alternative proposal in its next meeting to compensate for the cuts taken off the table. 

The Board of Revenue Estimates projected $900 million to $1.1 billion in revenue losses in 2020 due to the pandemic. Hard data is expected by the end of the month. 

Hogan has asked for $1.45 billion in budget cuts overall, but Public Works can make only a fraction of the cuts while the General Assembly is not in session. Lawmakers will review the remainder when the session reconvenes. 

"They’re all painful. And I would not have recommended a single one of these cuts," Hogan said Wednesday. "Frankly, I could never have imagined even considering voting for them. But, sadly, as painful as these cuts are, the alternative to not taking action is much more severe.”

Educators feel they must now be vigilant. 

'These cuts would be devastating'

School systems on the Lower Shore know the negative impact cuts like these would likely have — furthering wealth gaps, among other issues. 

For Somerset County public schools, about 76% of its funding comes from the state. 

"These cuts would be devastating to Somerset County," said Victoria Miele, public relations specialist for the district.

"These type of cuts will make it extremely difficult for us," she continued. "It will further widen the inequity gap between the wealthier counties that can maybe make up for cuts in the state funding. ... It's going to create more of a disparity, I think, for students receiving education in our county and counties like ours, across the state."

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Miele said if the state considers such massive education cuts, the school system will have no choice but to cut programs or personnel.  

Donna Hanlin, superintendent of Wicomico County public schools, said her team is always concerned to hear of potential cuts to education funding — but the timing this year is especially disappointing. 

"We are always concerned and disconcerted when we hear of potential cuts to education funding, and particularly so in a year when Maryland was poised to take a big step forward with the Kirwan Plan," she wrote in an email. "The last few months have put a great strain on our budget as we worked to find new ways to serve our students during the pandemic, and with those challenges continuing into the next school year, it’s hard to imagine making it work with less funding."

Chief Financial Officer Vince Tolbert of Worcester County public schools said the system had not received any details from the state on the cuts' direct county impact. 

"But anytime reductions, especially of such magnitude, are proposed to education — it is alarming," he wrote in an email. 

The Maryland State Education Association released a statement following the rejection of $200 million in cuts. 

The association said over 18,000 emails were sent to the comptroller and treasurer urging them to stand against the cuts. 

Association President Cheryl Bost said the rejection was "a win" — but did not disregard the over $230 million in other proposed cuts that could be considered by the General Assembly in future legislative session. 

"Educators should be focusing on how to ensure the safety and success of our students next year, rather than organizing to stop cuts to our already underfunded schools," Bost, a Baltimore educator, said in the statement. "We thank Comptroller Franchot and Treasurer Kopp for opposing these dangerous cuts and call on the General Assembly to continue to reject cuts to our schools."

MSEA noted the governor has also proposed cuts including $201 million in statewide K-12 school funding aid and a $32 million cut in capital improvements. Such improvements could range from new construction and parking lots, to technology and plumbing. 

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Miele said, as educators, she and her colleagues throughout the state are always being asked "to do more with less."

She cannot fathom doing even more — with even less. 

"I think that we all feel the same way about it," she said, then turning to Somerset County. "But it impacts some people more than others. Especially in districts that have a lot of poverty and receive a lot of funds from the state — they are already at a disadvantage."

The board is set to meet again July 22, where the governor has said an alternative proposal to the $200 million in cuts may be unveiled. 

Hanlin said schools have been on alert throughout this pandemic's quickly changing circumstances, and such vigilance will only continue as more changes to funding are eyed by the Legislature.  

"We will always advocate for what our students need," she said.