Somerset County Board of Education defers voting on 2025-2026 budget

SOMERSET CO., Md. – The Somerset County Board of Education has deferred voting on the proposed 2025-2026 budget.

The Superintendent and board members remain at odds over which positions to cut.

The board wants to eliminate five vice principals, which are positions Superintendent Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell wants to keep.

Meanwhile, County Commissioners approved $1 million above the state-required maintenance-of-effort, allowing the retention of six media specialist positions.

“These funds will allow us to enhance teacher and bus driver compensation, ensuring that our educators and support staff are recognized and valued for their indispensable contributions,” said Board Chairman Matt Lankford. “Moreover, we will retain all the media specialists.”

Board members are looking to add a new deputy superintendent, one they say will help bridge the gap between education and discipline.

Dr. Tasker-Mitchell said she was originally apprehensive about adding the new deputy superintendent, saying she wanted to be fiscally responsible.

With the additional allocation, she says she now supports the new position, but says the five vice principal positions are absolutely crucial and must be kept.

“They do observations, they engage with students, they engage with families, they engage with our communities, they help provide professional development for staff, they also help to lead the building in the absence of the principal, so their presence is essential to the work that happens in schools,” said Dr. Tasker-Mitchell.

The board has scheduled a budget vote this coming Monday in Somerset County.