Petition to Prevent Harmful Budget Cuts to Our Local Schools 
To: Board of Supervisors / Dr. Marianne Gibbs / Mrs. Linda G. Hodges / Ms. Mary K. Diggs / Mr. Robert A. Dobson / Mr. Calvin G. Morgan / Suki Zheng / David S. Daniel, Ed.D. / Lesley R. Hunley, M.Ed. / Jennifer M. Jackson / Sharon F. Morgan / Division Officials / Local Government Officials 
From: Concerned Members of the School and Community 
Date: 16 April 2025  We, the undersigned residents, parents, educators, students, and concerned citizens of Mathews County Public Schools, urgently call upon the School Board to halt all proposed budget cuts to our local public schools. Our schools are the heart of our community. They are where our children learn, grow, and build the foundation for their futures. The proposed cuts—whether to supporting staff members, essential programs, classroom resources, career building/college prep classes, or extracurricular activities—pose a serious threat to the quality of education in our district and the well-being of our students. As well as goes directly against your mission and vision statements for our schools (posted on the MCPS homepage).  
The proposed budget cuts will have devastating and far-reaching impacts on our schools, hurting the programs and people who directly provide students with the support they need in order to succeed. Perhaps the most disturbing of these is the removal of the CTE classes that are crucial in preparing students not only for college, but also for skilled trades and careers with high demand. Many of these classes are funded by direct donations and support from the community, as well as the teachers going above and beyond to keep these classes available for students. Eliminating these courses not only closes potential pathways for students' post-graduation; it fails to accommodate the needs of students who may not want to take a traditional four-year path. Equally alarming is the devastating cutting of support staff—whether teacher aides (TA’s), custodial staff (who have already received their letters of notice), counselors, or cafeteria staff, all of whom play an integral role in sustaining safe, clean and supportive learning environments. These personnel are essential to the day-to-day functioning of our schools as well as to the emotional and physical health of our students.   
The proposed cuts to athletic programs are deeply concerning. School sports are not simply extracurricular activities—they are vital components of a student’s development and well-being. Participation in athletics has been shown to improve academic performance, reduce dropout rates, and foster critical life skills such as discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Sports also provide many students with opportunities for scholarships and college admissions that would otherwise be out of reach. Beyond individual benefits, athletics bring communities together, promote school spirit, and give students a sense of identity and pride. Eliminating these programs will not only leave students without a critical outlet for physical and emotional expression but will also disproportionately affect low-income families who cannot afford access to private leagues or external programs. Our athletics director, booster club, parents, students, and community all know this, and have always gone above and beyond to raise money outside of what the sports bring in so that the students can continue to keep doing what they love.  
At the same time, classroom sizes are predicted to increase as teaching positions and support are being reduced, jeopardizing the quality of instruction, decreasing individualized attention, and placing additional strain on both educators and students. To compound this, administration continues to misspend, and fund high administration costs. Including an excessive (and unnecessary) superintendent salary ($147,800), the unnecessary cost of having more than one superintendent (assistant superintendent - $122,186), and multiple high salaried staff members within the school board (averaging between 54k-75k) for a school district that houses less than a thousand students. At a time when schools are being asked to cut from the classroom, it is fiscally irresponsible to preserve such top-heavy leadership structures. These cuts to vital academic and enrichment programs are an assault on the inclusive, holistic education every child deserves. These programs are not optional luxuries; they help foster creativity, diversity, and equity in our schools. These cuts reflect not just a budgetary misstep, but also a political misstep — a misstep based on the collective failure to prioritize the long-term success and well-being of our children. (All salaries found at govsalaries.com)  
Considering these serious concerns, we respectfully urge district leadership to take meaningful, transparent, and student-centered action. Budget reductions must begin at the top—not in the classroom. Unnecessary administrative positions, such as the assistant superintendent, should be eliminated, and high-level salaries should be reassessed and reduced accordingly. At a time when educators and students are being forced to sacrifice, it is only right that leadership does the same.  
Furthermore, non-essential spending should be re-evaluated across the board. For instance, only the Head of Transportation should retain access to a district vehicle, as this is directly tied to the safety and oversight of buses operating after hours. All other vehicle assignments should be reconsidered as part of broader efforts to cut wasteful expenses.    
Additionally, we can cut unnecessary electronics and software subscriptions, such as the overuse of Chromebooks that too frequently break, malfunction, require updates, and repeat lessons that students are already learning from their teachers. These devices have added to classroom distractions, increased screen time and exacerbated behavioral and attention problems — overall doing more harm than good in many cases.  
As part of a comprehensive solution, we also support the consideration of taking a modest, reasonable tax increase —provided it is implemented transparently and with full community oversight — to help fund and sustain essential programs and staff that are crucial to our community. More importantly, we request the district actively involve the community in the solution. Parents, community organizations and residents are eager to assist through volunteering, fundraising and donation — but they need a leadership team that invites their support and communicates openly. We believe there is a better way forward — one that protects our students, preserves and protects what matters most in our schools, and holds leadership accountable for making prudent, equitable financial decisions.  
If dedicated staff whose work is, in fact, the heart of our school system are laid off to pay for the mistakes and misspending made at the top, I assure you we as parents and stakeholders in Mathews County Public Schools will need to rethink our children’s enrollment. All of them, both in the athletic department and in the elective programs, have put in the extra effort for our schools. They have been steadfast, served as a pillar of stability, and received the trust of the families that depend on them every day to nurture and protect our children. To take away these essential roles is not only a disservice to our students, but shows an abandonment of duty to the values and vision of a strong public school system.  
That current path — one that ignores experienced, dedicated staff and has a poor track record in creating dialogue and solutions collaboratively — leaves us with grave concerns about our children’s education and wellbeing as we move forward in this negotiation. We will not sit idly by as our students fall behind and respected educators are pushed aside. The safety, education and development of our children should not be compromised because of the short-sighted decisions or absence of accountability by school leadership.   
Make no mistake: this community pays for, funds and feeds these schools. Parents, staff and residents deserve to have their voices heard and their concerns taken seriously. You have already lost too many wonderful teachers and support staff—we simply cannot afford to lose more. These are our schools, and we are standing together, respectfully but forcefully, demanding you put the needs of our children and those who serve them on a daily basis first. We demand — loud and clear — that you listen to us. Sincerely, 
The residents, parents, educators, students, and concerned citizens of Mathews County Public Schools