President's Corner

Spring has arrived, and with it no shortage of work for local school board members as we all tackle funding and Blueprint for Maryland's Future implementation hurdles, in addition to our other day-to-day school board projects and responsibilities. As one school board member to another, "I get it" when it comes to how challenging these times are. But I'm also inspired and encouraged by the examples of success I see from my peers.

A case in point are the three Magna Award-winning school system programs we highlight below in this issue of The MABE Scoop, as well as detailed highlights of Maryland's just-adjourned 2025 Legislative Session.

This Scoop issue also brings you local school system headlines and news on the practical implications of President Trump's recent Department of Education Executive Orders, as well as a case study on recent trainings provided to several member school systems through the ongoing MABE-Safety National partnership. On a personal note, kudos go to MABE Executive Director Milt Nagel and his wife, Tina, whose Nagel Home Farm in Caroline County was honored by Governor Moore on April 3 (details below).

As always, thank you for your talents, your dedication, and your unswerving commitment to MABE's core vision of serving as champions for excellence in public education. Your efforts, while not easy, mean so much for public schools and students throughout our state.

Karin Bailey (St. Mary's County)

MABE President

Award winners are featured in the April issue of the American School Board Journal. Warm congratulations to these school systems in Maryland for their groundbreaking programs!

BLUEPRINT UPDATE

Rarely over the past several decades have state lawmakers and the gubernatorial administration faced as many uncertainties and fiscal challenges as encountered this winter in Annapolis.

An enormous structural budget deficit greeted officials at this year's session launch on January 8, which grew to at least $3.2B by the time the 90-day session adjourned on April 7. Maryland's worsening financial landscape was caused in part by decreased employment and tax revenue on the state level, combined with significant federal pressure tied to reduction-in-force decisions by the Trump Administration. The latter disproportionately affects Maryland, given our proximity to the nation's capital and its federal agencies.

Against this backdrop, state and local officials wrestled with proposed implementation modifications to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, Maryland's 10-year, multi-billion-dollar plan to transform public education in our state. By end of the General Assembly's 447th Session, the House of Delegates rejected Governor Moore's call for a funding freeze in community schools located in low-income neighborhoods and a reduction in the per-pupil funding formula, and had stuck to the Blueprint's schedule for increasing "collaborative time" for teachers (thereby cutting down their in-class time to allow more time for planning, training, and working on projects or with students).

By session's end, the Senate version had roughly split the difference between the House and the Governor. Ultimately, foundation funding for FY26 will be at the levels identified in the original Blueprint legislation, and the reduction in the Governor's bill was restored by the full General Assembly.

NEW EDUCATION FUNDING HURDLE

The Maryland Department of Legislative Services estimates $8.4B in Blueprint costs in FY26, with a 9.5% increase over the next five years over initial projections. Ideally, improved educational opportunities for historically underserved populations can be achieved during the proposed Blueprint timelines, despite growing fiscal hurdles as the state's FY26 begins July 1 and the next school year launches this August.

Recent federal fiscal developments, however, likely will make related efforts markedly harder as we move forward. In line with the Trump Administration's goal of shuttering the U.S. Department of Education, department officials surprised state education stakeholders throughout the country in late March by changing COVID-related grant deadlines stemming from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

This move translates into federal education funding in Maryland likely being reduced by at least $418M (depending on extension requests and likely upcoming legal challenges. Please see related news clips below for additional context). 

MABE TEAM ADVOCACY ACTION HIGLIGHTS

Amidst Blueprint and overarching budget challenges affecting a range of education-related areas, MABE members and staff actively worked to support our continuing, collective vision to champion excellence in public education. Action ranged from related MABE committee meetings; delivering written and oral testimony to weigh in on dozens of proposed legislative changes; and related visits to state and federal lawmakers.

Multiple Maryland House and Senate Committees held a joint hearing in January to review the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, HB 504/SB 429. MABE Board of Directors Officers Karin Bailey (St. Mary's County) and Diana Hawley (Cecil County), along with MABE Legislative Committee Chair Jennifer Mallo (Howard County), offered testimony from MABE advocating for sustained Blueprint funding balanced by adjustments to programmatic design, all with increased local school system flexibility in mind.

Hearings also were held in the House and Senate in February, with MABE Board of Directors Officer Karen Yoho (Frederick County) joining Karin Bailey to emphasize MABE legislative priorities.

Deliberations by both chambers and the Governor's office continued through March, resulting in a budget modification framework designed to include more than $2B in cuts and more than $1B in new taxes.

Additional priority areas for MABE this session included:

• Curriculum, instruction and classroom environments, within which MABE opposed bills designed to limit local autonomy (such as SB 948), which would have lessened the professional responsibilities of educators.
• Labor and employment, through which MABE successfully opposed changes to occupational safety and health (as outlined in SB 26), by citing Maryland Constitutional requirements to prevent fines from being imposed on public school systems.
• Safety, security and student rights, timely subjects that allowed MABE to highlight for stakeholders statewide the related state law and permissible frameworks that balance individuals' rights with the needs to maintain safe educational environments (including for HB 1265).
• Construction, transportation, and maintenance, categories of interest to MABE membership, which involved MABE providing detailed informational letters to Senators and Delegates concerning potential unfunded mandates and/or unintended consequences. Related, SB 843 benefitted from direct MABE advocacy involving Kent County.
• MABE legal services also partnered with external lobbying firms to address more than a dozen additional noteworthy bills. These included HB 102, which delays the implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program by 18 months (further details below), and the Child Victims Act (HB 1378), legislation which will limit the state's financial risks stemming from claims filed over sexual assault while in state facilities. 

UPCOMING MABE ADVOCACY FOCUS

MABE legislative efforts throughout 2025 and into 2026 will align with areas described above and other priority issues. In particular, MABE's Legislative Committee, Chaired by Jennifer Mallo (Howard County), will continue to lead efforts tied to MABE's active lobbying efforts in Annapolis.

Additionally, MABE's Federal Advocacy Committee, Chaired by Jamila Smith (Charles County), will seek to actively inform and assist federal lawmakers with potential federal legislation to help Maryland in its efforts to mitigate harmful cuts to the state budget, and to state and local educational programs.

Please be assured we will remain engaged in actively monitoring and responding to both state and federal developments throughout this challenging year as they relate to public education as a whole, to funding for education initiatives (including, of course, the Blueprint for Maryland's Future), and to potential changed policies that may affect local school systems.

Thank you to MABE's valued members for your collective interest, involvement, and ongoing dedicated efforts!

IMPLEMENTATION EXTENDED FOR THE MARYLAND TIME TO CARE ACT

HB 102 passed this legislative session, which extends the implementation of Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (commonly referred to as the Time to Care Act) by 18 months. Benefits under this program now become available January 1, 2028.

The legislation also included language which exempted the escrow of funds requirement for local governmental employers to include local school systems, which had previously been a requirement in the draft regulations released by the Department of Labor.

The MABE/MACo/MML collaborative encompasses 106 government entities working together to continue to navigate implementation of this program. For additional details, please contact MABE Executive Director Milt Nagel.

Through the MABE Workers Compensation Fund and Group Insurance Pool partnership with Safety National, MABE Insurance Programs recently provided regional training to Cecil, Frederick, Harford and Kent Counties.

This training for the Ukeru System - which consists of restraint-free, trauma-informed care, and which has a successful track record of reducing staff and student injuries - enabled the four school systems to add newly certified trainers, and recertify existing trainers.

The $32k cost for the training was covered in full through the Safety National grant, which MABE applies for annually. This valuable training will have a positive impact on the overall educational environment.

"Participants from Maryland local school systems displayed incredible enthusiasm during the Ukeru training," Ukeru Learning Engineer Dawn Synder noted following the gathering. "The training fostered meaningful discussions and valuable networking among the four attending school systems. Their dedication to student success was evident, as they actively collaborated to enhance their educational environments and strengthen their school communities."

For more information about MABE Insurance Programs or about this article's contents, please email MABE Operations Director Melanie Wernig at any time.

Nagel Home Farm Earns Maryland's "Century Farm Designation"

MABE Executive Director Milt Nagel and his wife, Tina, recently were honored with Maryland's "Century Farm Designation" for their Nagel Home Farm, located in southern Caroline County. The respected designation was presented by Governor Wes Moore at the Governor's Mansion on April 3.

Maryland's Century Farm Program, established in 1994, "honors families whose farms have been in the same family for at least 100 years and continue to be productive."

The Century Farm Designation recognizes Nagel Home Farm's continuing legacy; its agricultural contributions; and multi-generational stewardship of Maryland farmland. All the farm's tillable land is part of the Maryland Agriculture Preservation Foundation, ensuring it will remain farmland forever.

The Nagel Home Farm is situated near Caroline County's Colonel Richardson Middle and High Schools. Purchased in 1904 by Milt Nagel's great-grandfather, the farm has been passed down to each subsequent generation since. Milt acquired the 116-acre Home Farm in 2015 following the passing of his parents. He represents the fourth generation to live and work on the farm, and someday will pass the farm on to his son who someday will pass it on to his son.

Milt grew up working on the family farm after school and during summers. He currently leases the land to one of his 18 first cousins who farms full time. In the best tradition of family farming, when Milt's schedule permits he pitches in to help his cousin - including tractor, combine and truck driving - hearkening back to the days when his own full-time farming dad taught his son farm lessons firsthand.

Sincere congratulations to the Nagel family on this well-earned honor!

IN THE NEWS

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MABE Training Options to Fit Your Busy Schedule

In keeping with MABE's mission to support local school board governance through professional development, advocacy and member services, be sure to check out upcoming in-person, virtual, hybrid and video trainings available free of charge for MABE members throughout the year.

MABE offers a diverse range of topics, and some programs may be customized to best meet your local board's unique needs. For additional information, please contact Molly Young, MABE Director of Board Development.

Thank you for your valuable efforts on behalf of Maryland public students and schools!