Montgomery County parents, school staff and community advocates urged the Board of Education to restore 10 pupil personnel worker positions that the superintendent's FY27 operating budget proposed to cut.

"I am here this evening on behalf of Montgomery County Pupil Personnel Worker Association. I'm here to urge you to restore the 10 people personnel worker positions cut from the FY27 operating budget," Monique KingKing said, describing the role of PPWs and warning that reductions would increase average caseloads by about 700 students to roughly 3,700 per PPW, well above the Maryland-recommended caseload of 2,500.

Speakers from multiple clusters and PTA groups said PPWs provide specialized services beyond attendance work, including residency investigations, behavioral support, family engagement, and help for students experiencing homelessness, trauma, or court involvement. Rachel Bonas, representing the county's Head Start parent advisory, said PPWs are essential partners for early childhood supports. Several cluster coordinators and principals told the board that cuts to PPWs and family engagement specialists would undermine services for high-need students and compound workload pressures on remaining staff.

Board members asked staff for concrete cost estimates and caseload projections. Board President Grace Vera Oven and staff indicated the next budget draft the board sees will include restored positions for the board to consider and that additional data will be provided in follow-up briefings. Superintendent staff said they will present a revised draft showing restored positions for the board's February review.

The testimony included calls for clear, school-level data about counselor and security staffing, itinerant assignments, and how proposed staffing standards will be applied. Advocates asked that any restorations be explicit in the version the board forwards to County Council so that community expectations are clear during the council's March-April deliberations.

The board did not take a formal vote on PPW staffing during the hearing; members said requested data will be addressed in upcoming work sessions and the next budget draft.