The Baltimore School for the Arts’ (BSA) proposed budget for the 2026-2027 school year was announced last week in a community forum. 

Compared to last year, where two teachers were laid off to cover a six-figure deficit, this budget season shows little change.

However, reductions in student club funding and no new staff positions illustrate a budget under stress: one where cuts are still necessary to cover gaps, in spite of a net increase in allocated district funding.

Here are four key takeaways from the proposed budget for next year:

Student club funding cuts

Allocated money for BSA’s student clubs will see a roughly $4,000 cut, going to a proposed $22,338 for next year. Cauthen initially presented a $10,000 reduction but said in a later staff meeting that value was presented in error, and the actual expected cut is $4,000, according to staff familiar with the matter.

BSA’s clubs include The BSA Muse, identity groups like the Black Student Union, and activity-based groups like the Student Government Association.

Clubs rely on funding for different purposes: identity groups require some money to stage their annual heritage month showcases, the Student Government Association needs to fund activities at annual festivals like Spring Fest, and The Muse maintains its website with the school’s money. 

Other expenses include stipends for faculty advisors and paying back smaller out-of-pocket expenses throughout the year.

Club leaders are waiting to hear from the administration about how cuts will be implemented across the various groups.

New part-time teaching position

After last year’s staffing cuts saw one of BSA’s two health teachers surplused, the leftover classes bounced from substitute to substitute, even ending up in the hands of BSA Principal Roz Cauthen at one point.

However, the district mandated that BSA hire a health teacher to cover those classes, and a part-time staff member was added soon into the school year.

Next year’s proposed budget will cement this part-time health position in place.

In the community forum last week, Principal Cauthen noted that this position has not yet been filled, and the administration is seeking someone to fill the role. Because the new position will be part-time, the teacher will split their time between BSA and another school.

Big funding swings

The proposed budget contains huge swings in which streams the district funding comes from, even though BSA’s total budget will see an increase.

BSA’s largest stream is per-pupil “Fair Student Funding,” which increased from $2,764,036 this year to $4,841,070 next year.

But that doesn’t mean we’ll see a $2 million increase – the stream labeled “Targeted Funding” dropped from $1,959,918 this year to $38,000 next year.

Alongside slight increases in two grant-specific streams, the numbers balance out to a $186,997 increase next year. The additional funding will cover the increased cost per staff member that is dictated by the district.

Cauthen said in the community forum that City Schools did not explain why these funding streams saw such drastic changes.

Shifting priorities

Alongside swings in where the money comes from, the priorities of the district and BSA’s administration have shifted since last year.

One of City Schools’ recommendations to fill last year’s budget hole was an increase in enrollment, and Cauthen aimed to increase our numbers from 441 students last year to 450 this year.

In spite of that, BSA maintained exactly 441 students this year as well, and Cauthen noted that the district was no longer concerned with increasing enrollment.

In addition, numerous participants at the community budget forum, as well as at the Priority Budget Engagement meeting in January, expressed concerns over district-wide cuts to tutoring last year that resulted in an end to most of BSA’s in-school tutoring.

Cauthen affirmed her goals for future budget seasons, which included restoring contracted tutors and adding back an English teaching position, a second assistant principal, and more mental health support staff.

But Cauthen also noted the presence of alternative tutoring options BSA has opened since the contracted tutors were lost, including weekly one-on-one sessions by National Honors Society students.

To contact this writer, email Muse Newspaper at musebsa@bsfa.org.

Featured photo by Kenya Price for The Muse.