This is an update to the original email we sent to the BOE email address on April 5th. The entire thread is in this post and the last entry is where we are as of 5/3/25.
> Response from Dr. Sovine:
Hello Ms. Gruhler,
First, I have to apologize that you did not receive a response to your email from myself or the Board in a timely manner. According to our Technology team, your email address was identified as being from outside of the country, and the IP was likely flagged as being high-risk. Your communication was released from quarantine and distributed to email inboxes just this morning.
I have taken the opportunity to address some of your questions that are pertinent to operations in my role. I have included your questions and my responses in blue here:
- Regarding the proposed 1% across-the-board cut to the FY 2026 Budget by some BOE members:
Please define “across the board” in this context.
Given that employee salaries and benefits represent the largest portion of the budget, how will these cuts impact staff compensation and benefits?
Before any programs or positions are reduced or eliminated, what data-driven rationale is being used to justify those decisions?
How are potential advantages and disadvantages of such cuts being fully assessed and documented before implementation?
The Board did not reach consensus on this scenario. Therefore, the 1% across the board cut is no longer being considered by the Board.
- On the proposed reinstatement of ABLE (cost: $609,455):
Student enrollment in the elementary ABLE program declined from 161 in 2021 to 58 in 2023. What was the cost per pupil in the elementary ABLE program during the 2023–2024 school year?
Cost per pupil in FY2024 was approximately $13,022.56. This includes the cost of staff, utilities for the Funkstown school, maintenance expenses, professional development etc.
What academic and social outcome data are being used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the K–5 ABLE program prior to its closure?
Dr. Zentmeyer suggested advertising ABLE starting with homeschoolers. What is the no-cost advertising strategy being proposed to “do more with less”?
Why is the focus specifically on homeschoolers?
Attracting homeschooled students is necessary as those students can be counted in our enrollment, making them eligible for state and local funding. If only current students enroll in the elementary ConnectED program, the school system will realize additional salary costs, without new revenue to support the expense.
For transparency, do any current board members have children or grandchildren who are homeschooled?
- Please explain the concept of “goal-oriented budgeting.”
How do the board members advocating for this approach see its goals differing from those laid out annually by the superintendent, the full BOE, and in the WCPS Strategic Plan?
- Budget Reduction Totals:
What is the total dollar amount being cut from the FY 2026 budget?
The Superintendent reduced expenses from the FY25 Budget by $1,613,276 when creating the recommended budget for the Board of Education to consider. Based on the consensus reached by the Board members during the April 8, 2025, work session, the Board is reducing the FY26 draft budget by another $955,900 by eliminating the expansion of the security assistant program and leaving the Cascade administrative assistant as a 10-month position. Additionally, the $2.24M allocation to the bus replacement cycle is being redeployed to the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) line item due to the county’s indication that it will pay for the bus replacements in FY26 through the Capital Improvement Program.
Considering both the 1% across-the-board cut and the reductions included in the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget (adopted as the BOE Draft Budget), what is the total amount being cut from the Board’s adopted FY 2026 Draft Budget?
Since the recommendation of the 1% across the board reduction did not reach consensus among the Board, the reduction from the BOE’s Draft Budget is $955,900 as noted above.
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> Response from President Zentmeyer:
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Thank you for your response Dr. Sovine.
It is my hope that the email glitch has been resolved. We have a few additional questions and will also be including those from our previous email that were not yet addressed, aside from the one Dr. Sovine responded to.
Specifically, we would like to know all meetings (e.g., advisory committees) that are held outside of school hours during the school year, and which staff members attend them.
For example, the Budget Advisory Committee meets in the evenings with various community members, and is attended by Jeff Proulx, his administrative assistant Karen Kretzer, and others.
Previous questions awaiting answers:
- What academic and social outcome data are being used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the K–5 ABLE program prior to its closure?
- Dr. Zentmeyer suggested advertising ABLE starting with homeschoolers. What is the no-cost advertising strategy being proposed to “do more with less”?
- Please explain the concept of “goal-oriented budgeting. How do the board members advocating for this approach see its goals differing from those laid out annually by the superintendent, the full BOE, and in the WCPS Strategic Plan? This was mentioned by several board members.
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> Response from President Zentmeyer:
Staff have prepared responses to your questions that involve school operations. In particular, I am providing charts that include information about the Board’s citizen advisory committee meetings and ABLE student data.
BOE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
| COMMITTEE | LIAISON | ADDITIONAL STAFF | DATE(S) | START TIME |
| Budget Review and Advisory Committee | Jeff Proulx | Eric Sisler
Kameron Shives Karen Kretzer |
2/25/25
3/5/25 |
6:00 PM |
| Calendar Advisory Committee | Dr. Webster | Ashley Barron
Kevin Grimm Identified school staff per Committee guidelines |
9/5/24
9/19/24 9/26/24 |
4:00 PM |
| Citizens Advisory Council Committee | Dr. Webster | N/A | N/A | |
| Ethics Advisory Panel Committee | Ilissa Ramm | Attending staff depends on the nature of the ethics concern | N/A | N/A |
| Facilities and Enrollment Advisory Committee | Rob Rollins
Chad Criswell |
Wendy Smith
Erin Anderson |
6/6/24 (cancelled)
1/15/25 |
6:00 PM |
| Family Life Advisory Committee | Eric Michael | N/A | N/A | |
| Finance and Audit Review Advisory Committee | Eric Sisler | Jeff Proulx
Karen Kretzer Accountants |
6/6/24
9/20/24 |
12:00 PM |
| Safe Schools Advisory Committee | Steve Ganley | N/A | N/A | |
| District Technology Planning Advisory Committee | Joe Allen
Danielle Kelley |
Jeanette Brill
Identified school staff per Committee Guidelines |
2/12/25 (postponed)
2/19/25 |
5:00 PM |
END OF YEAR ACADEMY OF BLENDED LEARNING ATTENDANCE (2023-2024)
| GRADE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| WCPS | 92.7% | 92.9% | 93.2% | 92.8% | 92.8% |
| ABLE | 90.1% | 90.7% | 92.6% | 83.2% | 85.8% |
ABLE ELA 2023-2024 MCAP DATA
| GRADE | TOTAL STUDENTS TESTED AT ABLE | ABLE % PROFICIENT | WCPS % PROFICIENT |
| 3 | *SUPPRESSED TO PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY* | ||
| 4 | 11 | 36.4% | 50.5% |
| 5 | 17 | 23.5% | 46.3% |
| TOTAL | 28 | 28.6% | 48.0%* |
*Includes Grade 3 data
ABLE MATH 2023-2024 MCAP DATA
| GRADE | TOTAL STUDENTS TESTED AT ABLE | ABLE % PROFICIENT | WCPS % PROFICIENT |
| 3 | *SUPPRESSED TO PROTECT STUDENT PRIVACY* | ||
| 4 | 11 | 18.2% | 34.1% |
| 5 | 16 | *SUPPRESSED* | 30.3% |
| TOTAL | 27 | 11.1% | 34.6%* |
*Includes Grade 3 data
In regards to the budget, as superintendent, I propose expenditures and investments to the Board that I believe are necessary to serve students to the best of our ability. The superintendent’s general fund draft budget is developed after completing a line-by-line review of expenditures with department leaders, considering available resources, and aligning proposed expenditures with the goals of the WCPS strategic plan.
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> Response from Rising to Learn:
Thank you, Dr. Sovine, for your response.
Dr. Zentmeyer, I am seeking clarification on the following questions from the elected Board, as these matters were initiated by Board members themselves.
First, the concept of “goal-oriented budgeting” was introduced by an elected Board member. Could you please explain what is meant by this term? Additionally, how do the Board members advocating for this approach view its objectives as differing from the annual goals established by the Superintendent, the full Board of Education, and those outlined in the WCPS Strategic Plan?
Second, the decision to reopen the ABLE program was driven by the elected Board. While Dr. Sovine has provided data as requested, it was ultimately the elected Board that voted to reopen the program. We would appreciate clarification on what data the Board is using to evaluate and support the effectiveness of the ABLE program.
Thank you for your time and attention to these matters. I look forward to the Board’s response.
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