My letter to the editor of the Rising Sun Herald, published 4/1/14:

Our county school system is at a critical turning point. Without adequate funding from the Cecil County government, Cecil County Public Schools will continue to struggle to meet the educational needs of our students in buildings and facilities that are crumbling around them. The county’s citizens must contact our county council and executive now to let them know we support the FY 2015 budget requests from CCPS.

School budget flat while county contribution declines

This crisis didn’t happen overnight. In 2001, CCPS received 51% of its budget from Cecil County; at that time, the state average was 57%. In FY 2014, the county contributed only 42% of the CCPS budget, while the state average was 50%. Cecil County currently ranks 21st out of 24 school systems in the state for per student funding by the county and state. Our children deserve better. Despite these gaps in funding, CCPS has worked diligently to provide students with quality educations. They’ve reduced positions and health care costs, depleted fund balance reserves, and deferred $47 million in maintenance projects. But the reserves have been depleted and those projects can no longer be delayed–A dollar can only be stretched so far and sidewalks and roofs can only be patched so many times.

Let the County Council and Executive know you support CCPS funding

CCPS submitted the FY 2015 budget request earlier this year. County Executive Tari Moore returned the budget with $1.8 million cut from the original request. CCPS is resubmitting the request with over $500,000 cut from its original request. Those of us who support education funding need to let our voices be heard. If we do nothing, a very vocal group will encourage the county government to continue this pattern of underfunding into the foreseeable future. Attend an upcoming county council meeting on 4/1, 4/15, 5/6, or 5/20 (vote) or contact the Cecil County Council and Executive in advance of those meetings. Support public education in Cecil County. If not now, when?