Residents, students and educators urge Howard County Council to restore $29.3 million to FY26 school budget

Dozens of students, teachers, parents, union leaders and school officials testified at a Howard County Council public hearing that the county should restore at least $29.3 million to the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) FY2026 operating budget to avoid cuts to programs, staff and services.

Saisha Diaz, an eighth‑grader at Folly Quarter Middle School, asked the council not to “put our school system or any elements of it on the chopping block” and urged funding to preserve programs such as college‑and‑career readiness, gifted and talented, athletics and arts. River Hill High junior Henry Yarmus told the council: “If the proposed budget goes through, the situation will become even worse,” saying class sizes, program cuts and lost teachers would harm students’ outcomes.

Why it matters: HCPSS officials say a $29.3 million gap exists between new recurring revenue and costs to maintain existing services; restoring that amount would prevent immediate cuts school leaders say would otherwise be considered. School officials and advocates said deeper restoration (they cited up to roughly $54 million more) would be required to fund additional priorities such as special education, athletic trainers, safety staffing and competitive compensation.

School leaders' case

Howard County Public School System Superintendent Bill…