Latest news with #BillBarnes
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County schools superintendent says special education audit affirms progress
A highly anticipated audit on special education in Howard County public schools highlighted some longstanding issues staff and parents have raised for years. Ahead of a presentation on the audit on Thursday at a Board of Education meeting, Howard County Public School System Superintendent Bill Barnes called the audit affirming. Barnes said the audit shows the school district is working toward fixing the right issues in special education. Some Board of Education members, though, felt the audit wasn't productive. For Barnes, undertaking this audit means the school district is responding to the concerns raised for some time. "We're not sitting still. We're moving. We're moving forward now with them," Barnes said. Barnes said the audit gives HCPSS a good picture. It was conducted by the nonprofit Research Triangle Institute, or RTI, from December 2024 to June 2025. The audit highlighted some longstanding concerns, including increasing caseloads with fewer staff and providers, not enough professional learning for staff, a lack of supports for students and their IEPs, and families feeling they can't effectively communicate concerns. One parent who was surveyed for the audit said, "It's always a fight. Every single time." "We know that we have to do better in helping families," Barnes said. "It's our goal to ensure that families feel as if they are true partners in the process. Not every family is feeling that, so we have work to do." Some of RTI's recommendations include developing supports to better monitor students' progress, including families more in the process, and reviewing staffing formulas. At the Board of Education meeting, board members questioned how actionable the recommendations are. Some board members went as far as to question the whole audit process, feeling it didn't go far enough. "I was hoping that the report would actually include a recommendation for what Howard County should use. This is a summary of things we already know," said Board of Education member Antonia Watts. Earlier this month, HCPSS unveiled dozens of new and repurposed special education positions to ease teachers' workloads. Barnes said moving forward, the audit will be influencing the creation of a strategic plan that's set to be released early August. "There are no quick fixes; we didn't get here in one day," Barnes said. "We're not gonna get out of here in one day. The improvements are gonna take some time."
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Howard County public schools reduce staff cuts in $1.6 billion budget
The Howard County Board of Education adopted a new operating budget after a tough budget season. The adoption of the $1.6 billion budget came after some last-ditch efforts to reduce proposed cuts by Howard County Public School System Superintendent Bill Barnes and board members. Some worked, while others didn't, with 102 positions cut. The fight to reduce cuts Before Thursday's meeting began, dozens of music students made their instruments heard outside to make the case for third-grade string teachers. Those students also filled the meeting, with their signs in tow. In the budget scenario the board approved last week, 12 third-grade string teachers were proposed to be cut -- effectively eliminating orchestra for that grade level. Ultimately, the board approved a budget with those cuts included. Before the vote, student board member James Obasiolu talked about how much having access to that class in third grade benefited him. "Having 3rd grade strings and that robust music education that so many people seek when they're moving to Howard County really allowed me to pursue those outcomes," Obasiolu said. Another cut that made it through was the loss of 39 positions to restructure the Elementary Gifted and Talented Program. Board member Meg Ricks did enter motions to increase the general fund balance to avoid these cuts; however, she wasn't able to generate enough support from other board members. Jolene Mosley, the board's chair, talked about her concerns about raising the general fund balance, saying those dollars will be needed for other things. "We have 700-plus incoming new IEPs. That staffing is not in this budget," Mosley said. These cuts left many students and parents who attended feeling defeated, including Anthony DeBella. His wife is a strings teacher, and his daughter is in the band. "It's a sad day when a program that started 50 years ago on the backs of parents, students, and teachers is cut out at the knees like this," DeBella said. Twenty-one elementary school media paraeducators and 12 high school teacher secretaries were also cut. What cuts were reduced, what's added In a move by Barnes, the number of health assistant reductions went down from 33.5 to 10. The number of float nurse positions was also dropped from two to one. While 13 athletic trainers will no longer be in the budget, 14 math and reading coaches have been added. There will also be two new student engagement liaisons.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Firefighters and EMS from different counties gather for boat safety training in Arkansas
DEGRAY LAKE, Ark. – One of the largest inland fireboat training schools in the United States made its way back to Arkansas, and this year leaders are taking water safety to a new level. The Natural State's lakes and rivers are something that people enjoy, but it can be dangerous with over 30 accidents reported in the last 42 years according to American Whitewater. Bill Barnes, Co Chairman of Arkansas Fireboat School says their program is focused on lowering those numbers. 'We have thousands of boats that are trailered into this state every year, our guests our visitors that are on the lake, so were set up to respond to all those emergencies,' Barnes said. New video shows multi-agency rescue at Arkansas River dam Firefighters and EMS crews trained to operate boats from different counties, and some from Texas and Missouri were all presented with 15 different water emergency scenarios. Water stream pump operations learning from simulated boat fires including how to save possible victims. Ron Crane, Arkansas Fire Boat School communications leader, took KARK 4 News on a boat to show how two scenarios would go. Little Rock woman speaks on continuing search for husband who went missing after boat capsized on Arkansas River One scenario emergency crew practiced putting out a possible fire on a burning boat. After Crane showed us another scenario. 'We have a medical scenario of flood victims that have been injured as a result of flood,' Crane said. Whether it's a lake, river or flooded area, all volunteers know how to respond and are now more prepared to save those that fall victim to the dangers of the water. 'They give up their time they do it all for free to save and serve the people of Arkansas,' Barnes said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County's public schools look into staff cuts, class increases to balance budget
The Howard County Board of Education is working to balance the public schools' budget, after it was given less than what it requested from the county. The Howard County Council adopted the county's FY2026 operating and capital budgets last Wednesday. The final allocation for the Howard County Public School System ended up being $816 million. It's more than what was initially proposed by County Executive Calvin Ball, but it's millions less than what school district leaders, staff, and families wanted. The Howard County Board of Education can make final adjustments until its June 4 work session. The budget will be adopted on June 12. What will be cut? The seven-member Board of Education held its first work session Tuesday morning since the county budget was adopted. HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes started the work session off with a presentation, which showed the school district officially faces a shortfall of around $15.3 million. To fill the gap, Barnes recommended eliminating what's been deemed as other budget priorities, which include security assistants and some human resources positions. Barnes also advised potentially leveraging some school system funds, which, per his recommendations, would bring the shortfall to just under $9 million. To balance the budget, Barnes presented two scenarios, both of which eliminated more than 100 positions. One of the scenarios also increased class sizes in middle schools and high schools. Several board members expressed concerns about the recommendations. "I am really concerned about cutting special education service levels, knowing already are not meeting all the needs of students," said board chair Jolene Mosley. Board member Antonia Watts expressed frustration, feeling like Barnes and the central office were withholding information until Tuesday's work session. "I don't understand why we're having this work session when we don't have the information that board members have requested to show our priorities in a scenario being built out," Watts said. Cat Carter, a member of the PTA Council of Howard County and a mother of five, has advocated for more funding for years. She was disappointed with this year's budget season and plans to run for the Howard County Council next year. David Yungmann, who has represented District 5 on the county council since 2018, doesn't plan to run for re-election in 2026. "We wouldn't be in this situation if the county council did the right thing, because our county has a spending problem and a priority problem," Carter said. Educators' contract at risk During the work session, board member Jacky McCoy suggested cuts could be coming for teachers. "If we care about our children, if we care about their education, every single one of us is going to have to sacrifice," McCoy said. "Even our teachers." The Howard County Education Association, or HCEA, just recently ratified a multi-year agreement for salary. "It went out to a membership vote, it was passed off by the Board of Education before it went out to a membership vote," HCEA president Benjamin Schmitt said. "It's been passed."
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County school leaders stand ground with push for more funding
Howard County schools fight for more funding from the county Howard County schools fight for more funding from the county Howard County schools fight for more funding from the county Howard County school leaders are fighting for more funding, saying they aren't satisfied with what the county is proposing. The school district is hoping for at least $29.2 million more than what's allocated, fearing pretty big cuts if the funding doesn't come through. Earlier this week, the Howard County Council pressed HCPSS about its needs at a budget work session. The need for more funding When it was time to read her report at Thursday's Board of Education hearing, Board Chair Jolene Mosley instead read a prepared statement about the budget process. In that statement, she stressed what's at stake. "The devastating reality is that any decision we make to cut existing programs and services results in fewer educators to effectively instruct and prepare students," Mosley said. In the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget, HCPSS is slated to get more than $800 million. More than $47 million of that will be new revenue to the school district, but HCPSS said even more funding is needed to fill a gap of more than $100 million. "How do we stretch $47.3 million of revenue to cover $101.6 million worth of needs? The shorter answer is we can't," HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes said. To balance HCPSS's budget, Barnes said the school district needs $54.3 million. However, HCPSS is hoping for at least $29.2 million extra just to cover existing service commitments and employee compensation and benefits requirements. Last year, HCPSS made more than $31 million in cuts to balance its budget. Those cuts included eliminating nearly 200 positions. If the proposed allocation remains the same in the county's operating budget, Barnes said HCPSS will face $29.2 million in cuts -- which means the school district could make similar cuts this year. Barnes and Brian Hull, HCPSS's chief financial officer, have pointed to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future plan as a big obstacle. The education reform plan was passed by the state legislature in 2021 and it invests billions into public education over the next decade. Barnes and Hull say the mandates in the plan, though, have been costly to keep up with. "When the blueprint was passed, it was pretty expressly stated that this was going to force local governments to increase their spending on education," Hull said. "As we have seen across the state, many local governments either don't have the capacity, or the desire to do that." The same conversation Howard County Council members pressed HCPSS leadership about the school district's needs at Monday's budget work session. Several councilmembers noted HCPSS seems to be in a similar situation every budget cycle. "This is the same conversation, like every single year, we go through this. The community gets so wrapped up in it," said District 5 councilman David Yungmann. Councilmembers also questioned what the school district is doing to adjust to the challenges, some arguing there isn't enough being done. "It's been really painful to come to these conversations each year without seeing that significant shift in what you're doing or how you're doing it," DistrictThe 3 councilwoman Christiana Rigby said. District 4 Councilwoman Deb Jung, however, hinted she'd support increasing the school district's piece of the county's budget. "Not only [is the school district] supporting all [of your staff] and all those buildings, [it's] also supporting 57,000 students and their unbelievable needs every single day," Jung said. "In a community that says we love our schools, we want them to do everything for us." Howard County Council is scheduled to adopt the county's operating budget later this month. After it is adopted, HCPSS will adjust to whatever its final allocation is.
