Faced with a $37 million shortfall in the level of funding it had requested for next school year, the Howard County Board of Education is deferring some of its plans, including one to hire 10 new middle school technology teachers.

The school board approved the deferral along with other cuts to its fiscal 2009 operating and capital budgets May 27 after the County Council approved its contribution to the school system's budget late last week.

All told, the public school system will spend $657.1 million on operating costs and $80.5 million on construction and renovation projects in fiscal 2009, which begins July 1.

The operating budget includes funding for 5 percent raises for teachers, and 164 new hires, including a coordinator for students with learning and attention disorders and 10 "leadership interns" to train to become principals.

The capital budget includes funding to renovate Mt. Hebron High, and to build additions at Elkridge Elementary and Northfield Elementary.

$4 million in cuts needed

The school system had requested $458.8 million from the county to fund its operating budget, which also receives funding from state and federal sources. The council approved $454.8 million of the request.

Superintendent Sydney Cousin said he and his staff found $4 million in cuts, including:

* eliminating one of two new public information specialist positions for $72,600;

* reducing building maintenance and grounds projects totaling nearly $1.1 million;

* deferring the hiring of 10 new middle school technology teachers for a $564,400 savings;

* and eliminating one new special education work-study teacher and one support teacher for $112,800.

"I think we have the product that will support the classrooms, teachers and schools," Cousin said of the adopted budget.

Board member Larry Cohen said he was concerned about cutting the maintenance and grounds projects in particular, saying that "it will really catch up to us at some point."

Overall, however, Cohen said he was pleased with the budget. "Considering the economic times, I think we did pretty good," he said.

For its capital budget, the board had requested $113.8 million, although it received only $80.5 million, including $62.2 million from the county and $18.3 million from the state.

The school board approved $33.3 million in cuts to its capital spending plan, including the postponement of renovations to the old Cedar Lane School, which totaled $13.8 million, and the deferral of building a maintenance and warehouse facility, saving $12.1 million.

E-mail Sarah Daniels at sdaniels@patuxent.com.

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