Washington County Board of Education to Hold Public Hearing on FY26 Budget

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The Washington County Board of Education (WCBOE) will host a public hearing on its Draft FY26 Budget on March 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Education Services in Hagerstown. The hearing, which will take place during the Board’s public business meeting starting at 4:00 p.m., offers community members the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget was developed by Superintendent Dr. David Sovine and is intended to align with the Board’s strategic priorities.

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The proposed budget covers the fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and includes $365.2 million in operating expenditures. The budget priorities, approved by the Board on October 15, 2024, focus on creating a safe and engaging learning environment, promoting student success, removing barriers to learning, and strengthening community engagement. These priorities align with the Washington County Public Schools’ (WCPS) strategic plan, “Your Journey, Our Commitment,” and guide the allocation of resources to support school operations and programs.

The budget development process began in September 2024 with a work session to outline budget priorities. Throughout the fall and winter, WCPS staff developed a prioritized list of needs and potential budget adjustments. The Superintendent’s Cabinet prepared a preliminary draft of the budget in November 2024, followed by internal discussions and further refinement through January 2025. Budget discussions included multiple work sessions with the Board and a presentation of the Superintendent’s Draft FY26 Budget on January 28, 2025.

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In February 2025, the Board adopted the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget as its draft budget, making it available for public review. The Budget Advocacy and Review Committee evaluated the draft budget and prepared recommendations for the Board. On March 18, 2025, during the public hearing, the committee will present its recommendations alongside public feedback. After the hearing, the Board is expected to adopt the final FY26 budget at its April 15, 2025, meeting. The approved budget will then be submitted to the Washington County Board of County Commissioners and made publicly available.

Individuals who wish to speak at the public hearing are encouraged to sign up in advance by contacting Debra A. Cechovic at 301-766-2971, although this is not required. Each speaker will have up to five minutes to share their thoughts, and written comments can be submitted via email to boe@wcps.k12.md.us or through mail to the Board’s office. The hearing will be streamed live on WCPS’ Facebook and YouTube channels and broadcast on Antietam Broadband channel 99.

More information about the budget is available on the WCPS website.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.

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