Superintendent Newsome Proposes ‘Academically Strong And Fiscally Responsible’ Calvert Schools Budget

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) may not have their budget decided yet, but they do have a slogan.

Dr. Marcus Newsome, interim superintendent of CCPS following Dr. Andraé Townsel’s resignation last July, presented his outline of the FY27 budget at the Jan. 29 BOE meeting as part of the planning process. Dr. Newsome said the line “Academically Strong and Fiscally Responsible” came from the draft efficiency report being conducted by Public Works LLC. That report is expected to be presented to the Board of Education next month.

Dr. Newsome’s presentation included prioritizing goals that align with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as well as improving outcomes for students, a budget philosophy he hopes to stick to as the process continues. The philosophy called for “strategic and sustainable investments” through aligning resources to strategic priorities, investing in high student impact and success, balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability, and complying with Blueprint requirements while staying grounded in local needs.

“We’re making steady progress in implementation,” Dr. Newsome said regarding Blueprint. “We’re right on target, right on track with the expectations of the Blueprint.”

One student spoke during the public comment period at the meeting to ask the board to prioritize technology funding, citing a disparity in student laptops. The student said that some of their peers had new laptops, but others were stuck with old ones that were slow or in need of regular repairs. Members of the BOE agreed the technology should be a priority in the budget.

The budget is typically decided later in the year. The district has to wait on funding allocations from the state and make a funding request to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. Last year, the district did not receive those numbers until just a few days before the new budget cycle was due to begin — discussions for FY27 have been ongoing in BOE meetings throughout this fiscal year.