The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), Service Employees International Union Local 500 (SEIU), and Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP) will hold a rally on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 5:30 pm at 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD, to call on the County Council fully fund the County Executive’s proposed operating budget for the 2025-2026 school year.
MCPS Board of Education President Julie Yang and Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor will join the rally as speakers, along with members from all three unions. “We meet on April 8th as one united voice—administrators, educators, staff, parents, and community members — standing together to send a clear message to the County Council: Fully fund our schools!” declared MCAAP President Dr. Handy.
“The MCPS budget before you is not just numbers on a page. It represents the future of our students, the stability of our schools, and the well-being of the dedicated professionals who serve this community every single day. Our superintendent has already made difficult cuts. Positions have been eliminated. Programs have been adjusted. And yet, despite these sacrifices, we are still being asked to do more with less. Even in tough economic times, our students deserve the best education possible. And that starts with fully funding the proposed budget. We cannot afford to fall behind. We cannot afford more cuts. And we cannot afford to lose talented professionals to other districts simply because they offer higher pay.”
“We call on the Montgomery County Council to prioritize education, to meet the commitments made to our students, and to ensure that MCPS receives the full funding it needs. This is not just about numbers on a spreadsheet. This is about children who need speech therapy, occupational therapy, individualized learning plans, and the dedicated staff who provide these critical services,” added SEIU Local 500 President Pia Morrison. “We cannot allow bureaucracy and budget constraints to dictate the future of our children. Investing in their education is not just a moral imperative — it is a legal and social responsibility. When we fail to fully fund education services, we are failing our most vulnerable students, denying them the equitable education that every child is entitled to under the law.”
“We need the County Council to fully fund this bare-bones budget,” said MCEA President David Stein. This budget enables us to keep our children safe in school and meet our special education obligations. Any cuts will hurt our students and make it harder for educators to help students succeed.”