BCPS Budget Proposal Includes Reduction In Gifted And Talented Staff

BALTIMORE COUNTY - At the public hearing for Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl L. Williams’ 2024 budget proposal, two speakers expressed concerns about proposed staffing cuts for gifted and talented programs.

The preliminary fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget includes eliminating three full-time resource teachers from the Office of Advanced Academics. This would reduce the number of staff working at the Office of Advanced Academics, which manages gifted and talented programs to one resource teacher, one coordinator, and one administrative assistant.

The residents voicing opposition to these cuts are involved with the Citizens Advisory Committee for Gifted and Talented Education, an organization designed by the board to collect public feedback.

The organization says that about 27% of BCPS students in grades 4-12 are involved in advanced academic programs.

Gboyinde Onijala, Director of Communications at BCPS, said the staff changes are part of Superintendent Williams’s efforts to “realize additional savings in head office management.”

The superintendent’s budget is far from set in stone. On Tuesday, the Education Committee will hold a working session on the budget before voting on it on February 28. The budget will then be reviewed by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, who will present it to the County Council for a vote in May.