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A proposal by the county school board to involve board members and parents more in the budget process led to a heated debate Tuesday between Superintendent Jerry D. Weast and some board members.

Under the proposal, Weast would have to alert the school board to any major changes in programs in his upcoming budget proposals.

County school leaders already include the unions and the Montgomery County Council of PTAs in preparing operating budgets. The school board's plan also would have the school system include the board, along with parental input, in the budget preparations.

Weast flatly disagreed with the proposed policy. And while he told board members he's not against more collaboration, involving parents too early in the process could create a problem, he said.

"It is important for the public process that you are not part of these things up front," Weast told board members. "If you're in on it, you stand to be accused of losing your objectivity on those kinds of issues."

School board member Christopher S. Barclay (Dist. 4) of Takoma Park said it's all about transparency. As an example, he brought up the closing of the secondary learning centers.

Two years ago, Weast proposed to close the county's secondary learning centers for special-needs students. Advocates blasted the plans, partially because the school system did not tell parents of children in secondary learning centers about the proposal.

In subsequent meetings with the County Council's Education Committee, county school leaders apologized for the communication failure.

"The intent for me has to be to increase and improve upon the collaboration," Barclay said Tuesday. "We're trying to figure out a way for this team to work together."

The board hopes to vote on the policy during its April 14 meeting.