Discussion surrounding the Worcester County Board of Education budget became one of the most heated portions of the Worcester County Commissioners’ May 19 budget work session, with repeated focus on how potential cuts could impact Pocomoke-area students, teachers, and families.
Much of the debate centered on funding requests tied to teacher salaries, school safety programs, pre-kindergarten classrooms, support staff, and behavioral intervention programs.
Superintendent Annette Wallace warned commissioners that cuts to the proposed budget could directly affect pre-kindergarten access in Pocomoke City, where she described a severe lack of childcare options. Wallace said Pocomoke Elementary is “almost universal” in pre-K participation and noted the community has very limited childcare availability outside the school system.
Wallace explained that failure to fund requested pre-K positions would not only force cuts at Pocomoke Elementary School, but could also jeopardize grant funding tied to expansion efforts elsewhere in the county. She emphasized that Pocomoke’s early childhood programs are especially important because many children there do not have access to private childcare or preschool options.
Throughout the discussion, Wallace repeatedly stressed that school leadership had spent months meeting individually with commissioners to explain the budget request, operational needs, and district priorities. Wallace specifically noted she had met with commissioners who were willing to sit down with her, including discussions with Commissioner Caryn Abbott regarding concerns in District 1 schools, including Pocomoke-area programs and behavioral support needs.
Wallace said she spent the past year listening to teachers, support staff, bus contractors, and school administrators before building the budget request presented to commissioners. She emphasized that the proposal was built around operational needs rather than unnecessary expansion.
Commissioner Eric Fiori strongly defended the school funding request, urging fellow commissioners to spend more time inside local schools before making cuts. Fiori said teachers and staff in elementary schools are dealing with escalating behavioral and disciplinary issues daily, and was particularly concerned with reductions to support programs like RISE classrooms and behavioral intervention staffing. He described the situation in elementary schools as reaching “a critical level.”
It was also argued that eliminating pre-K funding in Pocomoke would create what he called a “daycare crisis” for local families.
Commissioner Diana Purnell delivered one of the most emotional remarks of the meeting while discussing the impact potential cuts could have on students in Pocomoke. Purnell specifically referenced Buckingham Elementary School and argued that Pocomoke schools are often overlooked when major funding decisions are made. “We had to fight so hard to get Buckingham,” Purnell said. “And now here we are now, fighting for Pocomoke. Pocomoke is like the stepchild of the system.”
Purnell also criticized proposals to reduce funding tied to younger students in the southern part of the county, arguing that local children and teachers are already struggling with difficult classroom conditions and behavioral challenges.
The ongoing forensic audit of Worcester County Public Schools also became a major point of discussion.
Commissioner Chip Bertino said many residents still have concerns about confidence in the school system’s financial oversight following financial issues discovered earlier this year. Bertino stated that commissioners needed additional assurances before approving the full budget request, describing the current situation as “a big question mark.”
Wallace responded by stressing that the current administration should not be judged solely on prior financial problems. She confirmed the school system has already severed ties with its previous outside auditing firm and is moving forward with both a forensic audit and a broader operational review.
Wallace told commissioners the deadline for proposals for the forensic audit had recently closed and that the Board of Education was already reviewing submissions from firms interested in conducting the investigation. She said recommendations for selecting a firm were expected to move forward quickly.
One of the more pointed exchanges came between Commissioner Caryn Abbott and Wallace regarding transparency surrounding the audit process. Abbott, whose District 1 includes Pocomoke City, expressed frustration that county commissioners were not included earlier in discussions about how the forensic audit would be conducted, saying she did not feel county leadership had “a seat at the table” despite being responsible for overseeing taxpayer funding. Board of Education President Todd Ferrante responded that the elected school board had already decided it needed to move quickly and independently on the audit process.
Wallace later emphasized that she came before commissioners “with a clean slate” as the new superintendent and urged them not to punish students and staff because of unresolved audit concerns tied to previous financial issues.
Commissioner Joe Mitrecic repeatedly pushed for fully funding the Board of Education request, arguing the majority of increases were tied to negotiated salary agreements, health insurance increases, and essential student services rather than unnecessary spending. He added, “…when you talk about 82% of the budget being personnel related, there can’t be that much to cut in the other 18%.”
Repeated motions to fully fund the Board of Education request failed on 4-3 votes, with Commissioners Ted Elder, Chip Bertino, Caryn Abbott, and Jim Bunting voting against the proposals, while Commissioners Joe Mitrecic, Diana Purnell, and Eric Fiori supported full funding.
The school budget remains unresolved heading into additional discussions before the county’s final budget vote scheduled for June 2.
You can view the May 19 budget work session video here: https://worcestercountymd.new.swagit.com/videos/388409
