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The projected 2011 budget for Prince George's County schools is estimated at nearly $1.7 billion, a decrease of more than $42 million from the current budget, County Superintendent William Hite Jr. announced Wednesday night.

"Coming into this year, we knew this would be a difficult year for us," Hite said at the budget meeting held at the Sasscer Administration Building in Upper Marlboro.

Matt Stanski, county schools chief operating officer, projected a budget of $1,668,679,898 compared to this year's budget of $1,711,227,980.

Hite assured the school board there are no plans for a reduction in force. However, the budget recommends the elimination of 490 positions, allowing for $77 million to go toward core services for classrooms. Hite says he hopes to make the changes through attrition.

Last year, 600 employees, including parent liaisons, assistant principals and instructional staff, were laid off as part of a reduction in force.

"RIFs are not on the table at this time, and unless things change dramatically, we won't consider it," Hite said.

According to the proposal, classroom sizes will increase one student to 26 or 27 students per class in grades four through 12.

Reasons for the budget reductions include a predicted decrease in state aid as the state faces a $2 billion budget gap. County wealth is also predicted to increase, which could decrease state aid further, Stanski said.

The school budget also includes a possible $26 million penalty from the state, resulting from an attorney general decision that states the county failed this year to meet maintenance of effort requirements, a law that requires counties to provide schools with equal or additional funding as was provided the previous year.

Because of a $113 million county deficit, County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) sought a waiver of the law in April — an effort the county school board opposed. After the request was denied, the County Council opted to bill the school system $11.8 million for debt service on school construction bonds, which was previously provided free. State Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler issued an opinion Nov. 4 criticizing the shifting of funds in Prince George's and Montgomery County.

Stanski said a second opinion regarding the possible penalty has been requested from Gansler, but a response has not been issued.

"I think they are trying to find a way for Montgomery and Prince George's [counties] to not meet maintenance of effort requirements and not be completely wiped out," Stanski said Wednesday.

The budget draft also includes $2.8 million in improvements, which would result in 30 new positions, including staff for the Pupil Accounting Department and Central Garage Services, and nine teachers for the Middle College program, which allows students to spend their high school years at Prince George's Community College and earn credits toward both a diploma and associate degree.

Three public hearings regarding the 2011 budget will be held in January, followed by four school board work sessions to discuss possible changes.

The school board must adopt the budget and submit it to Johnson by March 1.

To get involved

Three public hearings will address the fiscal 2011 schools budget:

7 p.m. Jan. 5, Oxon Hill High School

7 p.m. Jan. 12, Fredrick Douglass High School

7 p.m. Jan. 14, Laurel High School

E-mail Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.