Superintendent Thomas Taylor sent an email to MCPS staff sharing the possible job cuts to the system as budget talks continued on Wednesday.
Taylor wrote, “What is currently being discussed has the potential to significantly impact Montgomery County Public Schools, you (our teammates), and the services we provide to students and families every day.”
The email directed staff to a PDF which spelled out what jobs would be endangered by cuts ranging from $17.9 million to $89.5 million. With 90% of the budget paying for salaries and benefits, the number of people who would have to be laid off could be around 900. Eliminated positions run the gamut of school personnel from teachers, to teaching assistants and many different categories of support staff.
Taylor noted, “MCPS has not experienced potential workforce reductions on this scale in many decades.”
In closing his email, the superintendent promised to continue to share information with MCPS staff. He asked employees to support one another and “extend empathy and compassion to colleagues who may be affected by these discussions and potential decisions.”
Final vote on all county budget matters will happen at the Thursday, May 21 council meeting.
The staff reduction spreadsheets can be found here.
