ANNAPOLIS, Md., May 2, 2025 — County Executive Steuart Pittman presented his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 operating and capital budgets to the Anne Arundel County Council on May 1, 2025, drawing responses from Board of Education President Robert Silkworth and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell. The proposal, available at , will be reviewed by the Board of Education at its next meeting on May 7, 2025, at noon in the Parham Building, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis.
“My initial reaction to what I have seen thus far is that the County Executive and his team have worked very hard in what are complex and difficult financial times to continue to support the students of our county and our AACPS employees,” Silkworth said. “We will obviously dive deeper into the proposal in the coming weeks, and I look forward to working with the County Council to continue to make our school system even better.”
Dr. Bedell highlighted Pittman’s commitment to education. “In my very first meeting with the County Executive in 2022, he promised me that he would do everything he could to invest in the students of our county and in moving our school system forward,” Bedell said. “He has been a great partner, and this budget is yet further fulfillment of that promise and a significant step forward as we continue to help every student Belong, Grow, and Succeed.”
The May 7 meeting, open to the public with space limitations, will include a presentation on the budget’s impact on Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS). The Board will also receive an update on workforce diversity efforts. A complete agenda is available on the AACPS website in the Board Docs section under the Board of Education tab. The general session will be broadcast live on AACPS-TV and the AACPS YouTube channel.
At 10 a.m. on May 7, the Board will hold a public session to vote on entering a closed session to discuss confidential matters, including legal advice, personnel, and negotiations, as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act. This session is not open to the public.
Public comment will be accepted during the meeting, with up to 10 speakers (virtual and in-person combined) per agenda item, excluding personnel matters, reports, informational presentations, and recognitions. An additional 10 speakers may comment on non-agenda items, excluding student-specific or personnel issues or matters with prior or upcoming public hearings. Registration for public comment opens at 3 p.m. on May 2, 2025, with procedures outlined on the AACPS website.
The Board’s Ethics Panel will meet on May 8, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the Parham Building. The panel will vote in open session to enter a closed session to discuss confidential matters, including legal advice and personnel, as allowed by the Maryland Open Meetings Act. The Ethics Panel maintains ethics forms, provides advisory opinions, determines complaints, refers findings to the Board, and conducts informational programs. More details are available in Policy BAF, Administrative Regulation BAF-RA, and Policy BK on the AACPS website.
The Board’s committees will hold virtual meetings: the Policy Committee on May 6, 2025, at 3 p.m.; the Equity Committee on May 20, 2025, at noon; and the Budget Committee on June 16, 2025, at noon. These meetings are accessible by phone with provided conference IDs but will not be broadcast.
Pittman’s budget proposal addresses the financial challenges facing Anne Arundel County while prioritizing education. The Board’s review will focus on how the proposal supports AACPS’s 82,000 students and 15,000 employees across 129 schools. Silkworth and Bedell’s statements reflect cautious optimism, emphasizing collaboration with the County Council to refine the budget. The May 7 meeting will provide clarity on funding for classrooms, staff, and infrastructure, aligning with AACPS’s mission to ensure every student belongs, grows, and succeeds.
The budget presentation follows Pittman’s ongoing partnership with AACPS, which has included investments in school facilities and programs since 2022. The Board’s upcoming discussions will shape the district’s priorities for the 2025-2026 school year, balancing fiscal constraints with educational needs.
