Washington County Board of Education Approves FY27 Budget with Focus on Staff Salaries, Mandates Phone-Free School Day

The Washington County Board of Education (WCBOE) has recently concluded its May public business meetings, addressing key decisions concerning the fiscal year 2027 budget, student technology use, and school attendance boundaries. Per a press release from Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), the board approved the FY27 General Fund Operating Budget, with significant discussion centered on increasing funding for staff salaries.

The initial budget proposal included provisions for a 1% salary increase for all WCPS staff. To enhance this allocation, board members explored various avenues for additional funding, including potential reductions in technology purchases, bus replacements, and other programs. The paramount consideration was to balance the need for competitive employee compensation with the school system’s long-term financial health. Ultimately, the board amended the budget to reallocate funds by reducing computer purchases by 330,000, bringing the total reduction in this area to 730,000 during budget deliberations. Additionally, two special education case manager positions slated for addition in FY27 were cut. These adjustments collectively contributed over half a million dollars to the salary resource pool. The budget was passed with a 5-2 vote, and negotiations for salary increases are currently underway with all employee groups.

In a separate development, the WCBOE has taken steps to align with new state legislation, approving the first reading of changes to Policy JICJ, which governs the use of personally-owned electronic devices. These revisions are in direct response to the Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act, enacted this year by the Maryland legislature. This state law mandates that all school systems in Maryland implement policies prohibiting student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices from the beginning to the end of the school day, requiring that devices be stored away, with limited exceptions. The policy will also address the restriction of student social media use during school hours. The Board is actively soliciting feedback from students, families, staff, and community members on these proposed policy changes. A survey has been made available and will remain open until Friday, May 29, 2026. Further information regarding the proposed policy changes and a link to the survey can be found at https://app.smore.com/n/50j71.

The Board also greenlit a series of adjustments to school attendance zone lines, which will become effective for the 2027-2028 school year. These changes are being implemented in tandem with the anticipated opening of the new elementary school, currently referred to as “Downsville Pike” Elementary. The approved boundary revisions will affect multiple elementary schools across Washington County and are designed to achieve a more balanced student enrollment distribution and alleviate overcrowding in certain schools. The initial recommendations for these elementary school attendance zone adjustments were put forth by the Facilities Enrollment and Advisory Committee after several months of study, with support from WCPS staff. The Superintendent of Schools endorsed the committee’s final recommendations and also proposed two additional modifications concerning middle and high school attendance zones in a yet-to-be-developed area of the county. The WCBOE conducted two public hearings on May 13 and 14 to discuss the proposed changes, receiving limited in-person feedback, with fewer than 10 individuals submitting comments through email or other communication channels. The Board is expected to review suggestions for the official name of the new elementary school in the coming month, as “Downsville Pike” is a provisional designation.

In other actions, the Board approved the renewal of GoGuardian classroom management and instructional support tools for the 2026–2027 academic year, providing educators with resources to enhance student engagement, track progress, and support instruction in elementary classrooms. A roof replacement project at Old Forge Elementary School was also approved. This project includes the installation of new roofing and ceiling insulation improvements, with construction scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2026, prior to the start of the new school year. Furthermore, the Board sanctioned a new agreement for an Employee Assistance Program. This program will continue to offer WCPS employees and their household members access to free and confidential counseling services, as well as work/life resources and support.

The meetings also highlighted achievements within WCPS. The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) presented its annual awards, recognizing outstanding WCPS staff, service providers, and students who champion special education initiatives. Additionally, Samuel Morrison, a fourth-grade student at Paramount Elementary School, was honored as the District 8 winner in the Maryland Municipal League’s “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. May also marked the final business meeting for Nora Murthy, the Student Member of the Board, who has served throughout the 2025–2026 school year.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Public Schools.

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