<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0PDvZr_1H1G66hP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0PDvZr_1H1G66hP00" width="1200" height="1200" ></figure>MCPS eliminated over 400 jobs in June due to budget limitations, affecting resources and operations in schools across the district, including Whitman. Some Whitman staff whose positions were originally cut in June are now back this year in different roles. During the COVID pandemic, MCPS used temporary federal emergency funds to hire extra support staff, including counselors and social workers. When the county exhausted these relief dollars, local tax revenues alone were not enough to maintain those staff positions. Rapid inflation increased the day-to-day costs of running a school system, and over seven years, MCPS student enrollment dropped by 6% while overall staffing grew by 10%.In December 2025, MCPS requested $3.7 billion for the 2027 fiscal year but received $36 million less when the county finalized its budget in May. To address the funding gap, district officials chose to cut down on employment, considering which positions directly impact teaching, learning and student well-being. Ultimately, MCPS cut 415 jobs in June, a decision that the public met with criticism. MCPS then reinstated 59 positions, including staff development teachers, school psychologists and college and career navigators before making a final decision. Paraeducator Lauren Quinn previously worked as an English composition assistant at Whitman, supporting the English department, helping with field trips for the school and maintaining the library and other administrative needs. MCPS eliminated the composition assistant roles as part of the cuts, and Quinn said weeks went by where she was uncertain about her employment status. Finally, she received an email on the last day of school notifying her of an involuntary transfer to a different department within Whitman. “I am still really disappointed that the kids don’t have the same amount of resources that they had,” Quinn said.Jason Byrd, another former Whitman composition assistant, initially faced an involuntary transfer to a different school entirely. However, Byrd said at the end of summer MCPS offered him an alternative position at Whitman as a paraeducator in the special education department. Byrd said despite the cuts, he remains optimistic that MCPS will successfully establish a more equitable way to fund its schools. “It’s unfortunate when you have to eliminate positions, especially regarding social workers,” Byrd said. “The hope is that they can find a better way to balance the budget and have the money to allocate towards educators.”The Montgomery County Board of Education ultimately eliminated 43 school social worker positions, slashing the district’s social work staff by nearly half. These cuts drew sharp condemnation from parents, educators and labor unions like SEIU Local 500, who argued that removing these vital mental health professionals directly threatened student well-being. While school psychologists and Whitman’s own college and career navigator were ultimately spared from the cuts due to intense public pressure, the loss of social workers left many schools grappling with fewer resources to support students experiencing issues like emotional trauma, housing instability and behavioral crises. Quinn and Byrd both staffed the Whitman Writing Center, providing help to students with English class-related assignments, college application essays assistance and language skills. Previously, the Writing Center was available to students all day; now, since Quinn and Byrd can’t work there full-time, it is only available during lunch and after school. Senior Layla Shraim said that unlike many of her peers, she doesn’t have a college counselor to provide college essay feedback, so the Writing Center was a helpful tool for refining and editing work.“[Quinn] gave really helpful, specific feedback on specification, diction and grammar,” Shraim said. “It never hurts to have another person’s input on an essay for college.”As the county continues to navigate financial challenges, these decisions reflect the resources available to students and the responsibilities placed on staff. For educators like Quinn and Byrd, the changes raise questions about how the district can balance its budget without compromising the support students need to succeed. </div></body>

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MCPS eliminated over 400 jobs in June due to budget limitations, affecting resources and operations in schools across the district, including Whitman. Some Whitman staff whose positions were originally cut in June are now back this year in different roles. During the COVID pandemic, MCPS used temporary federal emergency funds...

Whitman staples return after budget cuts

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MCPS eliminated over 400 jobs in June due to budget limitations, affecting resources and operations in schools across the district, including Whitman. Some

Whitman staples return after budget cuts

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