Montgomery school board gives final approval to budget
The Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously adopted the final operating budget for the county school system on Tuesday.
The $2.68 billion budget is an $80 million increase from the current year.
The increase will be used to manage an increasing student population and fund staff salaries and benefits, as well as “invest in key areas of work to close opportunity gaps,” according to school officials.
Money will also be put toward extended school year programs at two Silver Spring elementary schools, adding assistant principals at some schools and strengthening background checks for school staff.
Retirees honored at recognition ceremony
More than 650 retirees from Montgomery schools were honored at the school system’s annual retirement recognition ceremony last week.
Certificates of appreciation were presented to each retiree.
The longest tenured employees recognized were Betty Payne, in the school system’s graphics and publishing services, who retired after 49.1 years with the district and James Ritter, from Westland Middle School, who worked for the school system for 49 years.
A list of retirees, their most recent assignment and years of service with the school system is available online.
School board recognizes LGBTQ Month
The Montgomery County Board of Education on Tuesday recognized June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month.
Recognizing the month allows the community to “celebrate diversity, recognize the struggles that those in our community have faced to achieve equal rights and treatment and ensure that Montgomery County Public Schools is a community that is inclusive and accepting, according to the school board’s resolution.
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pride movement – commemorating the June 28, 1969 Stonewall Uprising, when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club, and sparked a six-day riot.
This week, the County Council for the first time raised the Pride flag at the government center in Rockville, also to commemorate LGBTQ Pride Month.
