More Funds Sought for Charles Schools

Charles County public schools Superintendent James E. Richmond this week proposed a $252.2 million budget for fiscal 2007 that includes funds to raise teachers' pay and benefits, expand an alternative school program, add 12 teachers to cope with enrollment growth and start an elementary school scheduled to open in August.

The proposed budget, presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday, would provide an increase of 12 percent, or $26.7 million, over current spending levels. The budget is first considered by the school board, which adopts a spending plan and forwards it to the county commissioners for final approval as part of the overall county budget.

Among Richmond's top priorities for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is $6.2 million to fund increases for teacher salaries and health benefits. Another big item, $3.7 million, would pay for 47 new positions, including teachers, administrators and support staff at the new William A. Diggs Elementary School, scheduled to open with the next school year.

Richmond has also proposed $350,000 to continue an alternative school program for at-risk elementary students. Generally, the program's students have histories of chronically disrupting classrooms.

The proposed budget includes $1.4 million to buy three buses for special education students and five buses to transport students who will be going to different schools because of recent or coming attendance redistricting.

The budget plan would require revenue increases of $16.9 million in state funds and $9.8 million in county funds.

The school board will meet Feb. 27 for a work session on the budget. The boardis scheduled to submit the approved budget to the county commissioners by April 1.

Land Proposals Vetted

The St. Mary's commissioners considered proposals Tuesday to allow two area organizations to use county-owned land, opting to put one in front of the public.

Representatives from the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department presented plans to build a substation on three acres of county property in Chaptico Park. Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize a public hearing on the plans.

The other request came from Patuxent Habitat for Humanity. Officials from the group told the commissioners that there is no land left in St. Mary's that Habitat can afford for house sites.

"We're in an embarrassing situation," said Chuck Stein, president of Patuxent Habitat. "Do we move people to Calvert where we have lots, or do we try to find land in St. Mary's County?"

The commissioners declined to propose a motion to set a hearing on Habitat's request that unused county land be considered for the group's affordable housing. Commissioners President Thomas F. McKay (R-At Large) concluded the session by saying the commissioners will continue to work with Habitat to determine future sites in St. Mary's.