May 14, 2020 For Immediate Release
BALTIMORE — During its Tuesday, May 12, virtual meeting, the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners (the Board) approved a nearly $1.39 billion dollar budget for the 2020-21 school year. The budget will now go to the Baltimore City Council for approval.
The budget was developed using feedback from the community gathered through community meetings, surveys, and focus groups. The budget strategically invests in areas that can improve student achievement. Priorities include:
- Student wholeness, literacy, and leadership
- Equity
- Enrollment, choice, and transfers
- Family and community engagement
- Career readiness
- Safe, secure, and healthy school
- Staff recruitment
City Schools continues to assess how its projected costs and revenues may be impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If changes are required as the district identifies recovery measures, appropriate budgetary steps will be taken.
Calendar Change
The Board also voted to authorize CEO Sonja Brookins Santelises to seek a waiver from the Maryland State Department of Education to change the last day of school.
If the Maryland State Department of Education approves the waiver, the last day of the 2019-2020 school year for City Schools students will be Monday, June 15, 2020.
The last day for City Schools teachers and other 10-month staff would remain Tuesday, June 23. However, if the waiver is approved by the State, City Schools will continue to explore creative ways to leverage or repurpose this additional staff time to support our students and staff in the upcoming school year, which could result in an earlier last day for staff with the unions' agreement.