We need you to come TOMORROW morning! Wednesday, March 20th at 8:00 AM at the George Howard Building

The Howard County Public School System's budget is in the county executive's hands. We need you to come out tomorrow morning, March 20th at 8:00 AM to hold signs with us in front of the George Howard Building where critical budget decisions are being made. We need as many people to come as possible. All are welcome.

We are asking the county executive to fund at 100% the proposed Howard County Public School System's Operating Budget AND to find additional funding so that beloved school teachers, staff and programs will NOT be cut.

This petition started as a specific request to restore GT Teachers in Howard County, but in tomorrow's event, the request is wider. We want the Howard County Public School System's Operating budget to be funded at 100% of that requested AND for the County Executive to find additional funding so that beloved school teachers, staff and programs will NOT be cut (cuts are currently written into the HCPSS budget submitted to the County Executive's Office). 

In addition to holding signs, we'll be passing out flyers and some elementary orchestra students will be playing their instruments. We encourage all to join our voices in asking the County Executive to Fund Our Schools! 

Our flyers read:

"Be a Life Saver, County Executive Calvin Ball: Save our Staff! Teachers were MINT to stay in Howard County Public Schools."

For any questions, please reach out to SaveOurGTTeachers@gmail.com.

Additional Details from an earlier message:

An Invitation for Civic Engagement

You are invited to come with your child(ren) to hold signs in front of the George Howard Building on Wednesday, March 20th at 8:00 AM in support of teachers and staff who are scheduled to be cut from the Howard County Public School System this summer in the proposed 2024-25 HCPSS Budget that is currently in the hands of the Howard County Executive.

Most elementary school children in Howard County will lose beloved GT and music teachers this summer if no change is made to the current proposed budget by the Howard County Public School System. Due to these staffing cuts, many GT classes and 3rd grade orchestra will be cut in most schools.

In schools with GT and orchestra teacher cuts:

· Curriculum extension units would no longer be offered to second graders.

· Seminars would be cut.

· GT math classes would be reduced to one section.

· Students will no longer have the opportunity to join orchestra in third grade.

We can teach our children about the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights by showing them what it means to stand up for something we care about when we disagree with a decision that is being made by elected government leaders. If we stand by idly, we are complicit in decisions that our school leaders make.

We do not endorse any violent or uncivil behavior and encourage all to show respect and decorum in front of a government building. Children should be supervised by their accompanying adult(s) at all times.

We recommend making your own sign with cardboard or foamboard that will hold itself upright when raising it with your arms. Short messages with strong action verbs are impactful like “Save our Schools, Howard County!” Using broad letter strokes with paint or filling in bubble letters with a marker will allow for greatest visibility from a distance and will show up best in media photographs.

Children who participate in orchestra may consider bringing their instrument to play as a visible representation of what hundreds of students will be losing next year.

Under Policy 9010 on Attendance, civic engagement is considered a lawful absence/tardy from public school in Howard County. Some children with 9:15 AM start times may even be able to attend this civic engagement without being late for school.

We encourage you to consider joining. Whether you attend or not, please write to the county executive in the next week with your school budget concerns asking him to fully fund the Howard County Public School System budget and to provide additional funds to restore these programs by emailing: cball@howardcountymd.gov and BudgetTestimony@howardcountymd.gov

If you have any questions about this opportunity, you may reach out to SaveOurGTTeachers@gmail.com and/or Neighbors4Buses@gmail.com