Carroll school board member: ‘Blueprint’ a mandated disaster | READER COMMENTARY

Maryland's ill-planned school reform plan likely to deliver higher taxes but not better outcomes for K-12 students.

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future train is headed down the path of higher taxes, higher pension costs and lower academic scores (“General Assembly answered some budget questions, but ‘delayed the inevitable’ on taxes,” April 12). Not a single mandate is tied to an academic deliverable — not one. When test scores plummet, class sizes increase and even more uncertified teachers are hired to meet staffing needs; local school boards will be powerless to change course.

The Maryland General Assembly could’ve eliminated some unrealistic, costly mandates. However, they opted to raise fees. Originally, county governments were told they wouldn’t be obligated to fund Blueprint, but they too must raise local property tax rates for requirements they cannot control.

The Blueprint is the largest redistribution of wealth and education resources the state has ever seen. And the majority party will likely enact substantial tax increases later to fund a $3.6 billion state structural deficit looming in 2028. The question is whether they’ll make sensible changes to the school reform plan or continue toward the cliff that lies ahead.

— Steve Whisler, Marriottsville

The writer is an elected member of the Carroll County Public Schools Board of Education.

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