Library media specialists warn cuts would cripple school libraries and tech support

Library media specialists, students and teachers told the Howard County Board of Education on Feb. 9 that proposed cuts to high‑school media specialist positions would undermine both literacy supports and day‑to‑day technology operations.

"Media specialists are not just librarians. They are both instructional leaders and technology support for the entire school," student Kyla Peak testified, describing duties that include Chromebook and classroom device management, instruction in research skills and oversight of digital platforms. Nikki McEwen, a media specialist at Howard High, told the board she has handled roughly 10,000 student visits and more than 1,400 repair tickets this school year and that the county relies on media staff to manage devices, databases and classroom technology.

Danielle Dunn (Hammond High School library media specialist) said that with only one media specialist per high school, the library cannot provide supervision, loan Chromebooks, or run video production classes and that multimillion‑dollar equipment would be at risk if staffing were reduced. Multiple witnesses argued the proposed change would save a small portion of the budget but create large instructional and operational gaps.

Speakers asked the board to preserve two media specialists per high school and warned that substituting paraeducators would remove certified instruction in digital citizenship, research skills and AI ethics. The board did not vote on the FY27 budget at the Feb. 9 hearing; the testimony was entered into the record for consideration in final budget decisions.