MCPS superintendent Jerry Weast sent an email to county teachers March 4 discussing the most recent budget changes for the next school year, which could save a total of $45,139,860. In the email, Weast detailed ways to reduce the number of teaching jobs.  Possible actions include increases in class size, reductions of media and security assistants and reduced funding for high school athletics.

“I want to be clear that while we hope that we will not have to make any of these reductions, we must deal with the reality of the situation before us and provide staff and principals ample opportunity to make plans and adjustments,” Weast wrote.

An increase in class size — one student per class in elementary and middle schools and .4 in high schools — would result in the elimination of 168.4 teacher positions.  There’s also a possibility that 9.75 of the 58.3 composition assistant positions in high schools will be cut. 

Next year, Whitman may have to involuntary transfer a part-time special education teacher.  The budget cuts have not yet affected the special education staff, but special education teacher Stephen Sutherland hopes his staffing doesn’t get affected too much by the budget cuts.  As of now, there are two Learning for Independence teachers and four paraeducators in the special education department.

“I do hope that with all of the paperwork special education teachers are required to do these days that our staffing doesn’t get hit too hard,” he said.  “Our jobs are probably one of the hardest teaching jobs out there with all of the IEPs, case management responsibilities, alternative state testing, etcetera.”

Already this year, Whitman lost a media assistant and three hours of composition assistant time, which means that a full time composition assistant will only work part time next year, principal Alan Goodwin said.

A number of teachers are retiring next year, so not as many jobs will be cut, Goodwin said.  When teachers are let go, they’re put on an “involuntary transfer” list, which gives them opportunities to teach at other county schools that need staffing.  Any teacher who is still on the list by the end of this year, and doesn’t have a job, will automatically be transferred to another school.

“We didn’t lose as much as I had feared,” Goodwin said.  “A few of our classes might be larger, but the impact will not be as much as it could’ve been.”

Teachers and students will be affected by next year’s budget cuts; there’s a possibility of eliminating a projected three percent increase for inflation for textbooks and instructional materials.  For high school students participating in after-school activities, the after-school buses will also be eliminated, requiring those students to arrange their own transportation home.