County doesn’t concur with grant, praises cooperation

By Jack Chavez Staff Writer

(June 22, 2023) The Worcester County Commissioners refused to concur with the board of education on its desire to accept a Pre-K expansion grant for the 2023-24 school year on Tuesday.

The board was looking for concurrence from the commissioners on the one-year grant that would add Pre-K classrooms at the county’s three Title I schools — Buckingham, Pocomoke and Snow Hill elementary schools.

The main holdup for the commissioners was the one-off nature of the grant, the expiration of which would leave the county to fund the expansion at $600,000 starting the following school year.

The grant would cover salaries for seven staff members, furniture, supplies, curriculum and technology needs.

“I don’t know what we’re obligated to pay regarding grant committals. Have we got that information?” Commissioner President Chip Bertino asked.

Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said that the county recently received that information, but that it was part of a revised FY24 schools budget that amounted to around 2,000 pages. His office was still parsing through the paperwork as of Tuesday.

Without that information, the motion failed to pick up an endorsement from any of the commissioners.

In the comment segment at the end of the meeting, Commissioner Caryn Abbott said she was thankful for the thousands of pages provided by the board and doubled down on FY24 frugality being prudent for the transparency the commissioners wish to provide to taxpayers.

“Fifty-five thousand (dollars) for food expense in (administrative costs) … some thought it went to culinary arts but that’s simply not so,” she pointed out.

She also suggested that the county outsource vehicle repairs to students at Worcester Technical High School.

“That is what they’re there for, to learn,” she said.

Bertino took time to commend the board of education for the fact that it even approached the commissioners looking for concurrence on the Pre-K initiative.

“This is the time I can remember where I program like that, that the board of (education) approached the commissioners letting us know something like this they’re considering,” he said.

“I do recognize we didn’t provide a concurrence, which I certainly agree with, but we do need to continue working together.”

The commissioners approved the revamped budget earlier in the meeting, a day before the state deadline to submit it on Wednesday.