Council keeps MCPS clearance contractors and secures George B. Thomas tutoring funding

Council members briefed the body on joint committee recommendations to preserve two contractors who process MCPS protective‑service clearances and to incorporate George B. Thomas Saturday School tutoring into the county base budget.

Councilmember Will Giordano said MCPS had a severe backlog in background screenings that the Office of HHS helped clear; the committee recommended $160,000 to maintain two contractors so clearances continue without delay. "Without it... one individual would be left to process all MCPS CPS clearances countywide, and that's not sustainable," Giordano said.

Separately, the committee voted to move administration of the George B. Thomas Saturday School tutoring services into the base budget to protect continuity of services for families and partners; councilmembers who spoke described the move as essential to ensuring families relying on tutoring do not lose access.

Both items were reported as unanimous recommendations from the joint committee and were moved forward by the council for final action during reconciliation and ordinary budget processes.