Baltimore schools face scrutiny over $7.5 million arts contract

Baltimore City Public Schools is under renewed scrutiny after records show the district extended and expanded a contract with the nonprofit Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center for arts programming to a potential $7.5 million, while eight educators have sued alleging they were not paid for work in city schools.

The agreement was originally awarded in March 2023 with a maximum value of $4.5 million. In May 2025 the district extended the contract through June 2026 and increased its potential value by $3 million. Records obtained by this newsroom include a redacted pricing sheet tying amounts to different program types, but the sheet does not disclose staffing levels or hours tied to those prices.

The lawsuit by eight educators alleges unpaid wages totaling $64,145.62. Plaintiffs contend payments were not made for services delivered in Baltimore schools. Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center’s founder acknowledged educators were told pay might be delayed. Plaintiffs’ counsel says delayed pay still violates Maryland wage laws. Leaders of Tomorrow has filed a motion to dismiss the suit; the school district likewise filed a motion to dismiss, arguing the plaintiffs failed to allege a viable claim against the district.

The district contract grants Baltimore City Public Schools the authority to withhold payments, audit the nonprofit’s finances, or terminate the agreement for cause. District officials were asked whether any of those enforcement mechanisms have been used in response to the wage dispute and declined to say. This office has requested further records from the district to clarify what payments were made under the contract and whether school-system oversight steps were invoked.

For families and educators, the dispute raises immediate practical questions. The nonprofit delivers in-school and out-of-school arts programming that many students rely on for enrichment, and unresolved payroll disputes risk disrupting those offerings. More broadly, millions in public funds flow through contracts with outside providers, and this case highlights how gaps in transparency and contract monitoring can leave educators unpaid even as taxpayer dollars are committed.

Policy implications extend to procurement and oversight practices. The redacted pricing sheet and the absence of detailed staffing or invoice records in public documents point to a need for clearer contractual requirements: routine payroll verification for subgrantees, unredacted invoices tied to payments, and regular financial audits of vendors receiving large public sums. School boards and budget officials responsible for approving and renewing vendor agreements also face questions about routine checks before extending multi-million dollar contracts.

The takeaway? Hold your local school system accountable by pressing for clearer records at board meetings, requesting payment and audit records through public information channels, and asking elected school board members what measures are in place to protect educators and students when outside vendors are paid with public money. Our two cents? Demand transparency now so arts programs and the people who run them do not pay the price later.