January 9, 2008

Ms. Navarro, members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Weast, I am Carla Satinsky, here to testify for the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County on the 2009 Recommended Operating Budget for our public schools. We have testified before you for many years, in times when money was plentiful, and when money was tight. In all those years, the League has supported the public schools, the programs, the staff and most important the children in the classroom. Do not look for a change in that stance tonight.

Montgomery County was the first county in Maryland to elect its Board of Education; your independence has been greatly advantageous to our county and the schools. I think this Board of Education, as well as the Boards of the past, have made good decisions for the schools and the children. And of great importance, you have to face the citizenry as a whole when you run for office. Since most households do not have children (or grandchildren) attending school in the county, the scrutiny you face is good for you and an educational opportunity for those people who need to know more about our public schools.

Another unique aspect of the funding of our public schools is that the local money to support them comes from the General Fund; that puts the public schools in the same pot as public safety, county government programs, the Ride-On system and all the rest of the services Montgomery County residents depend upon. The League has studied this system of funding and has affirmed and reaffirmed support for this method of funding. It makes it more difficult for the Board of Education and parents to obtain approval from the people in Montgomery County, but I would remind you that year after year the public schools have received at least most of the money that was requested, even in the lean years.

The Board of Education has a great responsibility in this fiscal year, a year with a large projected deficit. You must respond to the parents, who will naturally represent the needs of their children, the staff who depends on the BOE to provide it with the most conducive environment in which to teach, the Superintendent who has invested his best efforts in meeting the needs of the school population, the County Council which must consider the needs of all the people who live in our county, and lastly, the rest of the residents of our county. You are the representatives, elected by everybody in the county; you will be called upon to offer the reasons that funding for our schools should remain a top priority, and you will have to defend your decisions. I think that you know that you will have the support of groups such as the League of Women Voters in your endeavors. Thank you for your time and attention. Carla Satinsky

Carla Satinsky