Budget Report Page

Message from Dr. John E. Fredericksen, Superintendent of Schools

Thank you for your interest in the budget for Wicomico County Public Schools. Funding for education is important and impacts the economic health of our county.  According to a study by the Business, Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON) of Salisbury University, an investment in education results in a significant positive economic impact not only in Wicomico County but in the surrounding region.

On March 12, 2013, the Wicomico County Board of Education voted to approve the FY 2014 Consolidated Current Expense Budget with the Education Funding Recovery and Target (EFRT) Plan. This 5-year funding plan establishes a path to recover the recent loss of over $14 million in education funding for daily operations and requests $1.8 million for one-time, non-recurring funds for technology and security in our schools. EFRT is a key part of a conservative budget that seeks to maintain the current level of operations in Wicomico Schools. EFRT would allow us to:

• Recover the loss of $14 million in County funding over a 5-year period.  These additional funds (approximately $3 million each year) would go directly to support day-to-day operations and maintain class size
• Target one-time, non-recurring funds to:

1. -Implement technology initiatives to assist with instruction and mandated testing in accordance with Race to the Top
2. -Enhance security in all schools -- video and intercom equipment, secure access control and secure vestibule renovations

We believe the EFRT Plan is a reasonable and logical initiative to reclaim the educational funding necessary to launch our school system on the road to recovery.  Without EFRT funding, we will be unable to maintain the current level of operations, much less make educational progress.  We strongly believe the time is now to look forward and not backward as we seek to deliver the highest quality of education for our students!  They deserve nothing less. 

We urge you to actively participate in the budget process by reading through the budget documents posted on this page and speaking out about county funding for public education. There are two important upcoming meetings at which public comment will be taken on the budget:

• County Executive?s Public Budget Hearing ? 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013, Midway Room, Wicomico Youth and Civic Center
• County Council?s Public Budget Hearing ? May 16th 2013, 6:00 pm at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center

Thank you for your support of Wicomico County students and schools.