Meeting With Dr. Hite

Several weeks ago I was invited to attend a meeting with Dr. William Hite, Superintendent of PGCPS.  Based on the mailing list, all non-incumbent candidates for the Board of Education were invited to attend this meeting (Dr. Hite later stated that he also invited the current Board).

Although the email did not specify the intent of the meeting or its nature, I did not perceive a conflict.  However, there were those who found out about the scheduled meeting and promptly called me and ask that I not attend.  Not only that, but I was asked to write a letter stating that this meeting was an inappropriate request.

After much deliberation, I decided not to write the letter and confirm my attendance. After all, how could I, in good conscious, say no to a meeting with the Superintendent.  My candidacy is one that believes that any dialogue is good for the sake of students living in District 8.  The opportunity to have a discussion with Dr. Hite regarding the school system is very much needed and welcomed.

The meeting lasted a hour with approximately 12 in attendance including one incumbent.  There were six (6) areas discussed including Revenue, Enrollment, Poverty/ESOL, Innovation, Teacher/Leader Effectiveness and Maintenance and Repair.  Allow me to highlight my findings on Revenues.

Revenue - The total projected revenues for FY 2012 were $1.614B with 99% from three sources State 41%, County 38% and Federal 6.6%.

• Historically, over the past 5 years, the school system budget has seen a decline of 5%, representing $72,195,794.   

• What is a travesty is the fact that since FY08 the positions with the most cut are Guidance Counselors with a 15% reduction, Teachers with a with a 15% reduction, Therapist with a 23% reduction, Social Workers with a 50% reduction, and Librarians with a 55% reduction.

• Montgomery County spends $3,000 more per pupil than Prince George's County.  This in part is due to more funding allocated by the county to education.

• PGCPS has no revenue authority besides rental usage fees.

I'm no rocket scientist but how are "Children First" when critical services are continuously cut?  The resources that both our students and educators need must stay preserved for the sake of a brighter future in Prince George's County.  There is a systemic problem if by any sense of the imagination we are to believe that our school system is on the path of improvement with these drastic cuts to critical services.

Enrollment will continue to decline if students are not challenged with a curriculum that caters to different learning styles; Innovation is obsolete if educators are not given the proper tools to make it viable; ESOL communities will continue to struggle if unable to make cultural adjustments; Teachers cannot maintain effectiveness if year after year they are stripped of supportive resources; and Repairs will continue to plague our schools if creative partnerships are not employed.

It is time that we take a stance and get involved in our education system.  Join your local PTA/PTO at a neighborhood school or become a member of an organization that care about our students, but whatever you decide to do, do it with expediency!