Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — The Garrett County Board of Education voted to close Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools at a special meeting Tuesday.
The decision was made despite receiving $500,000 from the Board of Garrett County Commissioners earlier in the day for fiscal year 2013 and their suggestion to keep the schools open.
“Public education is not only our number one fiscal priority but also a notable objective of our economic development vision,” the commissioners said in a news release. “We recognize and emphasize that the issues and actions regarding school budgets, closure of schools and the overall decision about our school system rest in the elected members of the Board of Education. Any action on the part of the board of county commissioners as the funding source is not intended to usurp your difficult decisions.”
The decision was also made despite school boad president Charlotte Sebold’s suggestion that the schools remain open, instead cutting teaching positions.
“I would prefer to keep the schools open,” said Sebold, echoing the commissioners’ sentiments. “I don’t know how long that would be. We have got to address the fact that we are short $1 million. We have to have a plan.”
Sebold said the teachers’ positions could be brought back if the money from the potential stop-loss revenue comes through. That funding will be determined by a special session of the Maryland General Assembly that will likely be held in May. Before the money was provided by the commissioners Tuesday, 40 teacher positions would have been cut. Now that number would be reduced to 28 positions, according to Sebold.
“Things that we need here to make the economy grow are families and young people in our communities, said Sebold. “If we close schools, unfortunately we are not doing the things we need to do to grow the economy. We can make it without closing schools.”
Sebold also said she was appreciative of the fact that the commissioners were able to provide the money without raising taxes.
“At this time, the Board of County Commissioners plans to set the real property tax rate at the current rate of $0.9900, which will result in $2 million less revenue based on a reduction in assessments,” said the press release.
During their last meeting, the commissioners discussed the possibility of raising property taxes more than 7 cents.
Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools will be closed at the end of the school year and will save about $1 million and $279,000 respectively, helping to close a shortfall of $2 million, according to interim schools Superintendent Sue Waggoner.
“No other district has had as large of a one-year percent decrease as we have,” said Waggoner, noting that it was a 10.27 percent reduction in funding.
Students that attend Dennett Road will be redistricted to Yough Glades, Broadford and Crellin elementary schools. Yough Glades will be designated as the special education school and will need about $20,000 to provide the necessary facilities, according to Waggoner. Less money would be needed for the facilities if the work was done in-house, she said.
Students from Kitzmiller Elementary will be redistricted to Broadford Elementary. Both school buildings will revert to county government.
In their statement to the BOE, the commissioners encouraged them to have a discussion with whomever assumes the superintendent position.
“While closing community schools is a simplistic approach, you are encouraged to have an open dialogue with the candidates for the position of superintendent on how to best resolve current expected budgetary issues. It needs to be noted that commissioners cannot obligate or commit to additional funds above this level for FY 2014,” said the news release.
Although Friendsville Elementary was under consideration for closure earlier in the year, it was not included in the recommendation or the vote.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
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