Greetings Arts Advocates!
The cold blustery months of January and February means that it is BUDGET season for Baltimore City Public Schools. In the next few weeks, students, educators, families, and community members will have several opportunities to participate in the budget process for the 2022-23 school year. Arts advocates need to be alert, informed and vocal each and every step of the way. The Baltimore Arts Education Initiative Advisory Panel has already submitted this letter outlining arts expansion recommendations.
Where does the money come from and where does it go? The Baltimore City Public School district receives federal, state, and local funding based on the number of students enrolled districtwide. The majority of that money goes to schools. How much money a school receives is based on how many students are enrolled and the specific needs of the students served. To learn more, watch this short video.
Here is how you can get involved:
District-Level Budget Sessions: City Schools CEO, Dr. Santelises and her team of district leaders develop budget and learning priorities for the next school year. District leaders share their priorities through a series of community meetings. This is a great opportunity for arts advocates to remind district leaders why the arts are important to us. PLUS you can see Arts Every Day’s BMore Youth Arts Advocacy Council members co-facilitate the youth session on January 12 at 4PM.
Advocacy Update: The Baltimore City Public School district has posted the dates and times for all school-based budget meetings. Find your school HERE. Don’t miss this important opportunity to engage in the school year 2022-23 budget process.
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FOR YOUTH: New date- January 19 from 4 to 5 p.m. (English and Spanish):
- Link to join if you’re using a City Schools Zoom account
- If you’re using a personal Zoom account, enter the meeting ID – 840 2539 4765
FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS: POSTPONED: January 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- (English | Spanish – Webinar ID: 828 0513 3918)
- Join the meeting via phone by calling 301-715-8592 and enter the meeting ID – 840 2539 4765
FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: January 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
FOR MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES: (English, Spanish, Swahili, French, Arabic, and Tigrinya) January 27 from 4 to 5 p.m.
- Link to join if you’re using a City Schools Zoom account
- If you’re using a personal Zoom account, enter the meeting ID – 883 8885 3194
- Join the meeting via phone by calling 301-715-8592 and enter the meeting ID – 883 8885 3194
Once developed, the proposed budget will be presented to the Board of School Commissioners on April 12, 2022. The Board will then vote on the proposed budget on May 10, 2022.
School-Level Budget Sessions: School administrators have the difficult job of deciding how to cover the costs of staff, programs, and everything that it takes to run a school building. Every school is required to host 3 community meetings open to families, students, educators, and community members. Ask your school principal for the dates and times of these meetings:
- #1: School Priority Engagement Sessions (January)
- Principal shares their priorities and gathers feedback
- Sessions are open to families, students, and teachers
- #2: School Community Budget Forums (February – March)
- Principal presents a draft budget and asks for feedback
- #3: Budget Review Meeting (March – April)
- Community reviews the budget that will be submitted to the district for approval
Have questions? Send us an email: info@artseveryday.org
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