Public commenters urge caution on special‑education staffing cuts and praise immigrant‑protection laws

Public commenters used the April 15 public participation period to press board members on staffing and student protections.

Sharon Wilhyde, a parent, former itinerant teacher for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing students and board candidate, warned the board that phasing out 15 full‑time positions would stretch special‑education services and leave students underserved. She recounted personal experience providing services across half the county after a co‑worker’s role was phased out and asked trustees to weigh impacts before moving forward with personnel reductions. “Most days that meant starting before my contracted hours, eating lunch in my car while driving between schools...I was exhausted,” Wilhyde said.

Diana Bergman, who described herself as a Carroll County parent and candidate for state delegate, noted state legislative accomplishments she supported in Annapolis, including the Community Trust Act that restricts school cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and expanded data‑privacy protections. She encouraged the board to remember local organizing that contributed to the bills’ passage and to work toward inclusive school policies.

Union and staff leaders also spoke. Cindy Porter, a 27‑year special‑education paraprofessional and president of CASE, and Celeste Jordan, president of CCA, raised compensation and workload concerns. Jordan said nearly 20% of the CCA bargaining unit did not receive an anticipated salary-step movement and that some veteran staff have gone 591 days without a raise, urging the board to translate appreciation into compensation and concrete action.

Board members listened and did not take immediate personnel votes during the public comment period; superintendent remarks and subsequent agenda items addressed routine personnel movements and acting assignments introduced later in the meeting.