The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2004 includes increased funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and special education students, a new program for gifted students and salary and benefit raises for MCPS staff.

Due to the $300 million deficit in the county, education program reductions will total about $15.6 million.

"The economy is so bad that [the County Council doesn't] have a choice," art teacher Tom Kozar says. "Where are they going to get the money?"

Despite the deficit, over $2 million will be spent in a three percent salary increase for teachers, beginning July 1, 2003. Ten thousand dollars for tuition reimbursement and $24,500 for annual and sick leave will also be supplemented in the new contract.

The current three-year contract with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) ends July 1, 2004 and eliminates the possibility of contract reductions, but does allow spending increases.

To satisfy the expected capital shortage, the proposed budget will eliminate 80 staff positions and reduce the number of instructional materials. "There will be less money in schools for materials and supplies, and fewer instructional assistants," QO principal Daniel Shea says.

The County Council also considered lengthening the distance limit for walkers from a 1.5 mile radius of school to 2 or 2.5 miles, providing less buses and drivers, increasing class sizes, instating a six-period day and making program cuts.

"We may make cuts to the sports programs," Shea says. "Losing one football game this season didn't hurt a lot, but it did cost us four thousand dollars."

The six-period day was the first idea to be discarded because of the difficulty involved for students, who must acquire 22 high school credits to graduate. With the six-period day, students would only have the opportunity to earn a maximum of 24 credits, and that would be if they held a full day schedule.

Many teachers and students feared a cut being made to the arts and music programs, something that many school districts have done in the past as a solution to money problems. However, Kozar says, "The big advantage is that Superintendent [Jerry Weast] likes the arts. That's a plus."

The updated budget was sent to Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan March 1, where it will undergo a series of modifications before the County Council hearing April 3. The proposed budget will then be sent to the Board of Education, which will approve the final budget by June 11, 2003.

"The big question is: can we afford all this?" Shea says. "Are we going to spend less money on the same services or can we cut programs? It's all up for grabs until March."