March 12th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Board of Education, by a 3-2 vote, Tuesday removed a request for five additional teachers from the superintendent’s proposed FY 2020 budget to be submitted to the county commissioners. Superintendent David Cox presented his recommended budget to the board at a meeting two weeks ago- with requests for additional teachers in an effort to reduce the student to teacher ratio in elementary schools. Reducing that ratio was one of a 6 item priority list given to Cox by the school board prior to his preparing the budget. Last night, Board member David Bohn made a motion to remove the additional teachers, noting that the superintendent’s request for an additional $1.5 million above last year’s budget allocation was unrealistic. Board members Tammy Fraley and Debra Frank both noted that the board won’t have to finalize a budget until after the county reviews the request and provides a final allocation for the school system. To start cutting the proposed budget even before it’s been presented to the county for consideration- Frank says- doesn’t make sense. Board members Fraley and Frank voted against Bohn’s motion, but it was approved as Bohn was supported by members Wayne Foote and Robert Farrell. The board will finalize the budget at its March 26^th meeting, just two days before presenting it to the county commissioners.