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Students, educators and parents press Howard County board to restore cuts to media specialists and science paraeducators
Summary
At a Feb. 12 public hearing on the FY27 budget, dozens of students, teachers and parents urged the Howard County Board of Education to reverse proposed cuts that would reduce high‑school media specialists and eliminate science paraeducator roles, citing library access, technology support, lab safety and equity concerns.
Dozens of students, educators and community members told the Howard County Board of Education on Feb. 12 that proposed FY27 budget cuts to media specialists and science paraeducators would damage classroom instruction, hands‑on science learning and equitable access to library and technology services.
Fatou Savage, a senior at Reservoir High School, said cutting one of two high‑school media specialists would undercut literacy and practical tech support: "Our media specialists play a crucial role in curating book talks, promoting diverse works of literature, teaching AI lessons, and educating students on how to properly and productively use these new technologies," Savage said. She told the board her school — about 1,500 students and more than 100 staff — relies daily on the two specialists for device and projector support.
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