Школа округа Сент-Мэри перераспределила почти миллион долларов из-за роста цен на энергию

With energy costs on the rise, the St. Mary’s school board may have to start pinching pennies. At last week’s meeting, the board of education agreed to reallocate funding for substitute teacher salaries, instructional costs, worker’s compensation and tuition reimbursement to cover the cost of snow removal and electricity from earlier this year. The former cost $242,715 and the latter cost $689,144 for a total of $931,859, said Tammy McCourt, deputy superintendent of fiscal and supporting services. The approval followed an update from Kimberly Howe, director of the department of capital planning, about rising energy costs and the need to identify a funding solution. A supply chain demand caused by recent geopolitical events along with extreme weather conditions led to increased costs for fiscal 2026 and 2027, Howe said. “I am concerned about the cost,” she said. Rate changes for electric and fuel are expected to rise. Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative filed for a standard offer service rate adjustment earlier this year, which will go into effect this month, Howe said. When creating the current fiscal 2027 budget, fuel costs were predicted to be $3.25 a gallon, but the current cost is over $4, Howe said. “Looking ahead, all of this impacts student achievement, comfortable buildings for teachers and students and community members and offices,” board member Mary Washington said. “We have to have safe, comfortable environments for students to learn and teachers to teach.” Keeping students safeMcCourt returned to the presenter’s chair to explain how the school system can use remaining funds from the Stronger Connections grant, which focuses on student safety. The remaining $470,000 will go toward campus security cameras, radios, metal detector wands, a camera footage storage facility and public address systems for Ridge and Oakville elementary schools, McCourt said. The board unanimously approved the budget amendment to reallocate the funds from student personnel services, student health services and fixed charges to operations. “I’m always pleased when we do something for safety and security,” board member Josh Guy said.