The Board of Education's requested operating budget for next year will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Council this spring, and the Council has scheduled a series of public hearings during the first week of April to receive community input on this and other budgetary matters. Individuals can register to speak at the hearings by calling 240-777-7931 beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 10.

Board of Education president Patricia B. O'Neill has urged parent and community support for the budget request, which includes critical funding proposals for a growing enrollment of more than 135,000 students next year. The requested budget totals more than $1.2 billion and would provide a comprehensive package of school and instructional improvements, including class-size reductions and initiatives in early childhood education, mathematics, reading, and staff development, among others.

To register for the public hearings, Individuals must call in person, and reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals can register groups, but not other individuals. Those representing organizations will be allotted 5 minutes. Individuals may speak for up to 3 minutes. Speakers should bring 15 copies of testimony for distribution to Council members. In addition to spoken testimony at the public hearings, citizens may submit written testimony for the Council members to review.

The public hearings are scheduled for:

* Monday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.

* Tuesday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.

* Wednesday, April 5, 1:30 p.m.

* Wednesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.

* Thursday, April 6, 7:30 p.m.

All of the hearings will be held at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. (At present, no particular day has been set aside for testimony on the MCPS budget, but Council may set aside a particular date later.)