Parents, teachers and union leaders urge Worcester County to fully fund schools to meet $60,000 starting-salary mandate

A succession of parents, teachers and union leaders told Worcester County commissioners May 5 that fully funding the Board of Education's FY27 request is essential to meet a statutory starting-salary requirement and to retain educators.

"By 07/01/2026, the law requires that the minimum starting salary of $60,000 happens," Beth Shockley Lynch, president of the Worcester County Teachers Association, told commissioners. Lynch and many other speakers framed the Board of Education's request not as a discretionary ask but as a compliance and retention issue: speakers said starting pay that falls short of the state minimum will drive teachers to neighboring counties and exacerbate staffing shortages.

Parents and school staff gave specific examples of how the proposed budget would support classrooms and vulnerable students. Annette Wallace described the budget as "people-centered," noting that more than 86% of operating dollars go to salaries and wages and that funding supports safety and specialized programs such as an expanded RISE program and pre-K slots in Pocomoke. Matthew Sweeney and Connie Bernal, speaking as a parent and a special-education teacher respectively, urged commissioners to ensure students with complex needs retain access to one-on-one supports and specialized services.

Multiple commenters urged commissioners to resist letting isolated incidents of alleged financial impropriety drive cuts to classroom funding. Mary Hathaway said: "One individual's actions should not be used as justification to punish the thousands of honest, hardworking teachers, support staff and students who had absolutely nothing to do with those allegations."

Speakers requested that commissioners visit schools before making final budget decisions and emphasized that investment in education supports workforce development and local economic vitality. Several residents also noted that Worcester County schools have high ratings and strong outcomes, arguing that underfunding would undermine those strengths.

The county administration's FY27 presentation showed the Board of Education requesting nearly $13 million more for its operating budget, driven by step increases and a $4,000 cost-of-living adjustment; the commissioners have scheduled a May 12 budget work session to review updated figures before a June adoption vote.

Next step: commissioners will review staff's May 12 materials and consider the school funding request in a public budget vote later in the cycle.