By ISAIAH SHIAU
Community members voiced concerns over Prince George’s County Public Schools’ budget priorities during a school board meeting on the evening of Feb. 27.
The $2.9 billion budget proposed by superintendent Millard House II is close to the previous year’s budget (fiscal year 2025) of $2.8 billion.
House spoke about the school board’s request to rename schools after individuals without a history of racism — a multi-year process that would cost $12 million. The board’s proposition was met with criticism during the meeting’s public comments.
County guidelines require schools named after an individual to honor someone who has made a “notable contribution” to Prince George’s County or to the country. Charles Herbert Flowers High School, in Springdale, was named in honor of a Tuskegee airman, for example.
“Renaming of these schools is more than just a symbolic gesture,” House said. “Quite frankly, it’s a necessary step towards the creation of learning environments that truly honor and inspire students.”
In response, residents questioned the board’s prioritizing school renamings over a focus on traditional education. Despite the 5.6% overall rise in graduation rates, including a 12% increase for Hispanic students and a 14.6% increase for English-language learners, touted by House in his presentation, the budget was the main focus of community members’ comments.
“Transparency is important because budgets reflect the academic priorities,” resident Tonya Wingfield said. “It is unconscionable that I see a $12 million request to rename schools over educating kids.”
For perspective, the requested budget for renaming is roughly three times the $4 million budget for staff and student digital tools.
“It needs to be justified and aligned with the academic success for the students, the need of the classroom,” resident Delores Millhouse said. “We will not stand by and allow you to misuse funding.”
Other community members called attention to the $37 million budget deficit for FY 2026 and how increasing expenditures could exacerbate the deficit.
“Instead of keeping the budget balanced, this board is proposing nearly $10 million in unnecessary amendments,” resident LaVonn Thomas said.
Shannon Reed, a 10th grade teacher at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, in Upper Marlboro, argued against spending money on digital teaching platforms such as Achieve 3000, an online accelerated learning website.
“Knowledge is not skill, and a tool is not a teacher. Yet students have been given tools when they need teachers,” Reed said. “Directing teachers to use Achieve 3000 lessons to prepare students for the upcoming spring 2025 MCAP [Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program] is like giving a starving person a recipe.”
The $4 million for staff and student digital tools makes up 20% of the program enhancements in the proposed FY 2026 budget, which covers funding for the new online student information system, Synergy.
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Isaiah Shiau is an undergraduate journalism student at the University of Maryland.