Community urges full funding of MCPS FY26 priorities as board hears safety, staffing and curriculum concerns

Montgomery County Board of Education President Julie Yang convened the second night of public testimony on the superintendent's proposed FY26 operating budget, hearing roughly two dozen organizations, clusters and dozens of individual speakers who urged targeted investments in safety, special education staffing, paraeducators and curriculum resources.

Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton told the board she supported the superintendent's focus on improving academic achievement and stabilizing the system's finances while prioritizing student supports. "We support the superintendent's focus on improving academic achievement, stabilizing the school system and its financial position, and prioritizing resources for student learning and support," Ashton said. She asked the district to consider returning class-size guidance to 2023-24 levels and to fund 500 paraeducator positions included in the superintendent's proposal.

Students gave account-level testimony about security and schools' climate. Peter Boiko, a junior at Northwest High School and candidate for student member of the board, testified that a student carried a loaded handgun during the school day and asked the board to "prioritize school-based safety and to improve implementation of ID policies," adding, "we have over 160,000 reasons to do so." Other students and community organizations urged the board to fund full-time restorative justice coaches in every middle and high school and to increase supports for CREA (Career Readiness Education Academy), which speakers said is significantly under-resourced.

Representatives from union and professional groups praised aspects of the proposed budget while pressing for implementation details and process transparency. David Stein of the Montgomery County Education Association urged adoption of the superintendent's budget to increase special education staffing, reclassify paraeducator positions and boost supports for English language development. By contrast, administrative employee associations asked for clearer procedures when positions are reclassified or eliminated and cited contract and regulatory requirements for collaborative processes.

Cluster coordinators and PTA leaders repeatedly highlighted school-specific capacity and facilities problems. Ashburton Elementary was cited repeatedly as overcapacity (testimony referenced current enrollment near the high 800s and a near-term projection above 900 students), and multiple speakers asked the board and MCPS to identify staffing and boundary solutions. Several cluster speakers urged a county capital plan and operating allocations that would reduce class sizes and expand counseling and special education staffing.

Speakers from the Montgomery County School Psychologists Association asked the board to preserve current psychologist and central-services allocations, citing improvements in vacancy rates but noting the systemic need to approach recommended student-to-psychologist ratios.

Board business during the night included a procedural approval of the meeting agenda (motion moved by Franil Sivana and seconded by Natalie Zimmerman; President Yang called the vote unanimous) and a motion to adjourn later in the evening. The board asked staff for follow-up on several items raised in testimony, including options for bus tracking apps and clarifications about ID scanner deployment.

The board will continue budget deliberations at scheduled work sessions this week and is scheduled to take tentative action on February 4. Community members were reminded of two additional information sessions (one in-person and one virtual) where residents can offer follow-up testimony or questions.