The Worcester County Board of Education voted last week to allocate a portion of the projected Fiscal Year 2024 surplus for after-school programs for the current fiscal year.
Showell Elementary School students are pictured on the first day of the 2024-25 academic year.
Photo courtesy Worcester County Public Schools
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Worcester County Board of Education voted last week to allocate a portion of the projected Fiscal Year 2024 surplus for after-school programs for the current fiscal year.
Chief Financial Officer Vince Tolbert said that as the system finalizes its fiscal 2024 audit, officials anticipate a surplus of $800,000 from the unrestricted operating budget, which totaled $125,946,391. Of the $800,000 sum, $567,000 will be set aside as revenue for FY26 to keep the system “revenue neutral in FY26’s budget.”
The remaining $233,000 will be used to fund after-school programs in fiscal 2025.
The board’s president, Todd Ferrante, noted that no funding was available for after-school initiatives at Ocean City Elementary School, Showell Elementary School or Stephen Decatur High School.
Tolbert said that financial aid for after-school academies had been reduced in the past few years per the Maintenance of Effort funding formula, the lowest legal monetary amount the local government could provide to the system in fiscal 2024.
Tolbert said the funding was requested to be restored in fiscal 2025, but the ask was denied. In response to the lack of monetary support, Worcester County Superintendent Lou Taylor recommended that the $233,000 be transferred to the programs.
The board approved the suggestion in a 6-0 vote. Member Donald Smack was absent. Board member Jon Andes motioned to green light the recommendation, which member Elena McComas seconded.
Taylor maintained that with the board’s approval, the body will take the recommendation to the Worcester County Commissioners to seek their approval.