"Bare bones budget" includes $125,000 Consultant

Board of Education President Patricia O'Neill told The Washington Post that, "The budget is bare bones, you know, but what we need to sustain the system," 

Superintendent Jerry Weast has outlined a list of proposed cuts that will be taken if he does not get the $25 million budget increase he is requesting.

Superintendent Weast's proposed cuts target classrooms, teachers, buses and maintenance.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the Board of Education has on their consent agenda (no discussion) to approve a $125,000 payment to a long time MCPS consultant.

The Parents' Coalition has previously detailed what is publicly known about this particular consultant, based on research and public information requests.

Is a $125,000 security consultant expenditure required as part of a "bare bones budget?"  (Consultant James Gompers from Illinois shown to the left.)

MCPS does have a Department of School Safety and Security.

According to the memorandum submitted to the Board of Education by Superintendent Weast there was only one vendor mailed for this consulting position. The memo shows that the one vendor mailed was not a company that had an owner that was minority, female or disabled.