Board of Education Public Work Session | September 1, 2026 | 1:00PM

The Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) Board of Education held a public work session on September 1, 2026, focusing primarily on the FY28 budget priorities. The session provided a detailed overview of enrollment trends, funding formulas, and budget allocations, emphasizing the complexities of funding for special education, multilingual learners, and pre-kindergarten programs. Key procurement-related discussions included the allocation of funds for staffing, with a significant portion directed toward special education and multilingual learner positions, and the impact of state and county funding shares under Maryland's Blueprint for Maryland's Future. The board also discussed anticipated expenses such as the Time to Care Act payroll tax, pension cost increases, and inflationary pressures on contracts for nursing and school resource officers. While no formal votes were taken, the board reviewed budget priorities to guide the superintendent's budget drafting, highlighting the need to balance staffing costs with programmatic requirements amid flat enrollment and constrained state finances.