From the Harford County Board of Education:
The Board of Education of Harford County met for an open business meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 10, 2013, in the Board Room of the HCPS/A.A. Roberty Building and took the following actions and received the following presentations:
Due to the tornado watch that the Bel Air area was placed under this afternoon/evening, the recognition of the 2013 MPSSAA Interscholastic State/Regional Champions and Sportsmanship Awards were cancelled for this evening in the interest of student safety.
Approved the Consent Agenda:
– Affirmation of Monthly Contracts
– Minutes of Previous Board Meeting: May 28, 2013
– Minutes of Previous Closed Session: June 3, 2013
– Decision on Transfer of School Bus Contracts
– Decision on Distributor Food Products Bid
– Decision on Snacks and Non-Carbonated Beverages
– Decision on Department of Special Education Contracts for Related Service Providers
– Decision on Contract Award for Storm Water Management Repair at Hickory Elementary School
Approved the following transfers between state category budgets:
– Maintenance of Plant (Budget Line Item 110) to Operation of Plant (Budget Line Item 111) of $250,000
– Instructional Salaries (Budget Line Item (103) – $250,000) to Other Instructional Costs (Budget Line Item 105 – $200,000) and Student Services (Budget Line Item 107 – $50,000)
– Fixed Charges (Budget Line Item 112 – $100,000) and Operation of Plant (Budget Line Item 110 – $75,000) to Other Instructional Costs (Budget Line Item 105 – $175,000).
Approved the amended FY14 Unrestricted Budget of $424,737,271. Many amendments were proposed and approved to implement reductions to programs and increase revenue generation with fees. The HCPS Budget Office is currently preparing the updated budget documents with all of the amendments listed as approved. The updated information will be posted tomorrow morning to the school system website (www.hcps.org) and will be sent to this distribution group via email as soon as it posted.
Received the Superintendent’s Report which includes:
– Congratulating our graduates and their families on their accomplishments and thanking Harford Community College for the use of the new APGFCU Arena for graduations.
The next Board of Education business meeting will be held on Monday, June 24th, at 6:30 p.m. All Board meetings are held at the A.A. Roberty Building in Bel Air. To access all future Board meeting dates, log onto the school system website at www.hcps.org.
Once again, they cut teacher positions and not the fat happy central office personnel. Unbelievable. I thought the business of HCPS was to teach kids, not to supervise teachers.
Thank you for stating the obvious!!! And no, I am not a teacher I AM a CONCERNED PARENT!!!!
Help! As a HCPS teacher, I have fallen down the contractual stairs and can’t get up! No one of any authority cares, they just kick you while your down, tell you to get up, and send you more to do since you complained.
WOW!! Abusive much?
Amazing that it’s teachers that they decide to cut. Our school was told to get rid of 2 teaching positions. The math department has already been told one is from them. So class sizes go up again in classrooms that already have desks crammed too close together for learning but great for student socializing. Our class sizes went up last year because of the dept chair positions. Everyone thinks high schools only lost 1 last year but in reality it was more like 2 1/2 – they initiated the dept chair program even though the plan was based on hiring staff to fill in the gap of lost teaching time the additional planning periods dept chairs were given made to the schedule. And because the state decided to play in the Race to the Top federal cesspool, teachers now will have more hoops to jump through for no raise again and higher benefit fees. I asked my administration what our school’s ‘cut’ was of that money and they laughed. Apparently by the time whatever money the state got finally trickles down to the actual school it’s not even worth talking about. So it looks like Race to the Top is the new No Child Left Behind…lots of mandates and extra workload on teachers but no funding to back up the demands it makes of school systems.
And the headline talks about ‘pay for play’ but it’s funny how the details are conspicuously left out of the article itself…now that they’ve thrown that into the discussion, it just means that athletes from poorer households won’t be able to afford to participate or our school will have to deplete it’s ‘hardship’ fund to pick and choose which ‘star’ athletes fees it will cover for them. Some of my students come from households that don’t value education and keep their grades up only because it keeps them on the team-remove that motivation and they have no reason to bother. It’s unfortunate that ‘pay for play’ will be an unequal hit to families across the county-hitting some schools more so than others. So will athletic teams be based not on skills and athleticism but who can afford to pay? And will payment be required up front? What if the child quits the team or gets injured? Do they get a refund? What if the parent doesn’t pay? Is the student kicked off the team? Does the coach now have to be an accountant as well to keep track of fees? It should be interesting to see how all this works out.
A provision was put in that students approved for Dree and Reduced Meals will be waived from the fees.
The majority of my students that will be affected by this do not qualify for free and reduced lunch. They have a parent (or parents) who are working, not on assistance but live paycheck to paycheck with nothing left for extras.
Unfortunately we all must make tough choices. If parents want their children to participate in extra activities they will find away. I am certain there will be family members, businesses and other civic organizations that would be willing to sponsor students really in need. I have also taught students whose parents were struggling but did not qualify for FARMS but I also noted they often wore expensive clothes and had more expensive electronics than I have. As I said – choices.
The only county in the state to screw education and its teachers. Not once but 4 out of 5 years. 100% pathetic
This is the only country in the world where being an educator is thought of as a joke profession. I should have gone into sales. At least salesmen don’t try to hide the fact the goal is to f*** you over.
This county sucks my @ss
Your are so removed from the real world. Sales People are paid on performance !! Get rid of your BS Union and teacher tenure( that protects lousy teachers), and have your compensation based on your performance like people in the real world, get judged on your performance, and I will gladly pay you 100K.
Not sure if you have ever studied or worked in education, but our occupations ARE based on performance evaluation. So can we see that other half of the 100k?
A good reason for charter schools. Teachers are paid well, and are eliminated the second they are not up to par. No unions there. Obviously all of the money the Federal government has thrown into education has done nothing but create dumber children and greedy teachers. Lets go to a free market approach and let the status quo rot in an empty school devoid of students.
Quit wasting millions on field turf, white boards, surround sound, projectors, active votes, document cameras…
Shows you the priority. Sports first. Shiny new things that look pretty, second. Students third.
All turf now is being paid for by Parks & Rec. Turf is also a smart investment considering the cost of maintaining natural grass that is used nonstop. So actually turf might be a smart investment to help save the job of a whining teacher that doesn’t want to be held to any standards!
I am sure that is it. Teachers not wanting to be held to standards. How about parents doing their jobs? Can a teacher hold a parent accountable if their child comes to school without the proper preparation? In my day, my dad put a boot up my backside when I didn’t do my school work. Today, people want to blame the teacher. I guess I should blame the dentist when I fail to brush and get a cavity.
Not really. When staph infections break out from turf rather than grass, the maintenance will have to increase well beyond what is now used on grass. The driving factors are 1. It looks great, and 2. underestimates of maintenance cost and product life.
Staph? So now we blame turf on infections? Fallston rec has had it for years where’s the major outbreak? PMHS’s field looks horrible and isn’t as safe.
Oh my god, that is some real life stuff man. Staph? Omg. Like, holy dog shit.
Staph growth on artificial turf is LOWER than on natural grass. See 2008 study conducted by Penn State University – Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on Synthetic Turf .
However, the artificial surface MAY cause more skin irritation than natural grass, causing more opportunities for Staph infections from OTHER SOURCES, such as lockerrooms.
Read – Incidence and Risk Factors for Injuries to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in National Collegiate Athletic Association Football – published in 2012 in The American Journal of Sports Medicine. There is a significantly greater risk for ACL injury on artificial turf than on natural grass. The NFL has experienced the same trend.
If turf is so good, why not have all sports that use a field use it? Why have so many fields for different purposes? For that matter, why do students have to leave school early for sports, causing missed classes and teacher coverage? Why not start games while the sun still shines and use the lights less? Why not coordinate practices where both varsity and junior varsity practice at the same time? Save money on coaching positions entirely by only having varsity. Why not charge the same price throughout the whole county for admission to all events. Example, $10 per person no matter what the age? Why not have sponsorship of teams – but then the uniforms might end up like NASCAR.
Parents want to attend games, so those have to be held later in the day. I agree that no student should leave class for a sporting event, regardless of how far the bus ride is.
You have to remember that there are only so many buses. For sports or anything that needs a bus you either have to leave during school, or after the elementary school bus runs are done.
If you play the games at night, then you have to have teachers cover the games. Some sports like cross country, tennis, track, and gold have to played during the day because either they don’t have lights, or not enough of the area is lit.
There are so many contradicting suggestions there I don’t even know were to start.
It has to be replaced every so many years at nearly a million bucks…
Time to step up….you are so right. One school just received a quarter million dollars in technology upgrades. I’m sure a few jobs could have been salvaged.
Come on now, Coach Slutsky with the help of BillyB got 1.6 million put into the budget for Aberdeen HS to get a new weight room
Pretty sure the weight room is also used by the wrestling team. Is there a connection?
If you were keeping up with the budget process you would know. The county council, in an amendment by the ‘Coach’, added 1.6 million to the school budget for a new weight room at a school that is 6-7 years old. The next week $250,000 was added for Joppatowne HS to get their weight room upgraded, to keep Guthrie from complaining, for a total of 1.85 million. Compare this to the $250,000 added to the budget for computers for HWES I think we see where the councils (ie Slutsky and Boniface-Craig’s lapdogs) priorities for education are.
I am glad that my daughter has long since graduated from this county’s system. The mindset at the top of this county is amazing. The mentality is this – when the wagon is too heavy to make it up the hill, you shoot the oxen instead of getting rid of the shiny things with no real value. Can we really expect fewer teachers to provide us with the top quality results that parents of this county want and deserve?
Amazing. Not one administrative cut. Not one central office cut. But 80 teachers? Good luck. I guess the pendelum will swing the other way when parents see their kids in classes of 36. The powers that be can, and have, ignore the teachers but they cannot ignore masses of irate parents.
But they don’t seem to ignore the administrators. How about and across the board 10 or 20% reduction in admin? Wouldn’t that me a more sensible place to start if you are truly interested in delivering the best EDUCATION? Or are they bent on the best ADMINISTRATION?
Fair is fair. If they cut teachers and lower positions, they should cut a percentage of administrators and board employees.
How is it decided who joins the 80? Is it the bottom 80 performing teachers in the County (If so then good)? Is it the 80 teachers with lowest time of service? What about retirements are these positions just not being filled?
Previously HCPS eliminated positions by not filling slots after retirements or other departures. Expecting a unionized group to lose the worst performers? That’s a good joke.
I find it more of a joke that the cuts are at the bottom. The top heavy 6-figure salaries could be slashed, but nope….let’s keep kicking teachers while they are down.
That’s as bad as expecting the internet to lose tired old trolls.
Some administrators may “pack” an observation against someone. Realistically, if students are succeeding and tests scores are up for that teacher, should they be eliminated or a teacher who has good observations but test scores consistently going down, late for work, or abuses the position?
Each school gets a number of positions they need to cut based on percieved staffing needs (some will need to cut more positions than others). Note that they are cutting positions, not necessarily teachers. Ideally, the teachers who lost a position at one school will get an administrative transfer to another school with an open position (those openings created by retirement, etc.) The person who gets transferred, to my knowledge, is the one with the least amount of time in the system. One would assume that if it came to a teacher being released from the county entirely (pink slipped), this would not be based on any type of merit, but on the least amount of time served. Last year, I believe 60 positions were cut from HCPS, and this year will be 80. 140 positions cut in two years… I’m not sure how much space will be left. It would be a shame to see teachers getting pink slipped.
Teachers may not have to float from classroom to classroom any more, but there will be classrooms that go completely unused.
One of the hidden reasons behind teachers now needing three years of service before they get tenure is that the System doesn’t need a valid reason to get rid of a non-tenured teacher.
Wow. 140 less teachers in two years. Pretty soon we will only have administrators left.
We are now five years into the great obama recession. We will see enrollments continue to decline since fewer babies are born during difficult economic times. At this point, I would suggest that the combination of declining birth rates continuing over the next decade and the reputational damage done to the county’s education system over the past five years by the current crop of politicians, does not bode well for Harford educators. We have positioned ourselves perfectly for further cuts in teachers as the county must address both declining enrollments and revenues. If you are a Harford County teacher…God bless you for your efforts in spite of all of the crap thrown your way. But, you would be better off teaching elsewhere.
I am disappointed that teacher positions are eliminated without a reduction in the executive staff. When you eliminate a Deputy Assistant Superintendent, you saved salary and benefits, secretaty, travel to schools, confetences and reports that waste teacher and Principals time. This budget confirms it is easy to for faceless teachers out in the schools but hard to make hard decisions inside the headquarters. We need a Superintendent with more strength to make hard but sound financial decisions.
Am I understanding things correctly? Were there no cuts from central office?
I heard 2.
For parents who are supportive of classroom teachers, I would also suggest not sending in a bulk of supplies at the beginning of the school year. Only send in what *your* child needs and that on an as needed basis. Otherwise, these supplies will be used for general use for the children of parents who eat off of the system. No, let these parents buy their own supplies.
If you want to have a fun talk with your kid’s teacher, write your name in 2″ high letters with a thick permanent marker on every item you send in.
It would be good for you to write like that. It’s the only way a teacher would be able to read your illegible, illogical, noxious slop.
BTW…my wife is a teacher. An excellent teacher, and a very intelligent person. I guarantee that if I heard you say something like that in front of her or myself the only thing you’d be writing would be a check to the hospital.
I already do that when I send in supplies. Nothing wrong with it. Why shouldn’t the teacher know it is sent in by me?
Not sure what you mean…we encourage parents to label every supply because young children have no clue that their supplies are the ones on the floor!
I am more than happy to send in whatever supplies I can for the use of all of the kids.
what a bunch of wankers, I’m talking about the half dozen comments that are about staph infections on artificial turf fields, as if that is such a greater risk of health issues in anything else that kids are exposed to in school, and for that matter, out of school. The only health risk I noticed today out of my normal routine is how much more dumb I got reading the comments in here.
Read this article, it shows that I know what I’m talking about. Bro, there are probably a thousand articles about 1 subject worded a certain way now since the internets bandwidth is unlimited.
I am encouraging my friends that teach to leave the county. Bright, dedicated teachers should be rewarded, not with fabulous money, but with the steps they signed up for.
This is extremely disconcerting. Harford county is showing its naivety if they think that teachers will not leave if they receive little money and fear for their jobs each year. Class sizes continue to grow, and the educational standards are harder to keep up.
I hope they know what they’re doing.
Bye.
just kick off already will you
Congrats bro, you are encouraging the behavior of what a normal person would do. What’s that? Hyuck
Shitty hours, shitty boss, shitty pay, well shit, you should resign and work somewhere else.
Don’t worry pardner, plenty of applicants will soon fill the resigned slots? Why? Perhaps they are from an even more people congested area, perhaps they lived what really defines “in the country” and this place is just right for them, perhaps they are from a school district described by their opinion as even worse.. ooooh, the endless scenarios.
No they will be filled by the cast offs no one else wanted. Explain why we are the only county continuing to do this?
I’m sorry for the teachers who feel abused. I feel for the council who had to listen to some teachers degenerate back to student behavior. I feel for Marylanders who have to endure tax and spend politicians who are budding socialists. The amount of $ grabbed from citizen pockets, awful, yet teachers historically and almost blindly follow tax and spenders. I feel for those who lose their jobs but when citizens are being bombed with payroll tax hikes, health insurance hikes, gas tax hikes, rain tax hikes, pending trash removal hikes – where does that leave public sector employees – victims of tax and spenders they support.
– Bel Air Fed
– “The amount of $ grabbed from citizen pockets, awful”
says the federal employee…
So teachers are being told today they are being let go-3 teachers per school. Sad! Tell me why we need MENTOR TEACHERS and INSTRUCTIONAL Fac? This is all that is best for the children right? Sad to see great teachers today- they are being let go…….
By the actions of the school system, I see the real focus in HCPS is the administration level of employees. Shame on you. I thought the students were your focus. Sorry, but my days of working nights and weekends is over. I will no longer meet with parents after my duty day nor tutor a child in need. I am tired, very tired of people not keeping their word or promises.
Cut Cut Cut, and Cut some more. Welcome to the real world all of you greedy teachers. Your union leader should be replaced. You are paying your dues, and he did nothing. Way to Go Harford county. Please cut more spending.
You are right….Burbey’s first year on the job and we get handed historic position cuts. Way to go Burbey….way to piss off the councty executive, and county council on your own personal liberal agenda. Seriously folks, you have the worlds biggest socialist liberal attacking a republican based legislative and executive branch….what did you think was going to happen? The Union will not be respectable until we vote Burbey out. Call a special session and get rid of him.
are you paying attention you scrubs? Rb has been doing more and fighting for what’s fair! he is calling those thieves out!!!
Calling them out doesn’t put food on the table for all the fired teachers.
Amen
You are a complete moron.
Not surprised you would say that, Liberals are addicted to wasteful spending, and hiding behind keyboards.
Agreed, cut more!!!
Perhaps if teachers were allowed to strike, positions would be different. Perhaps if there weren’t so much politics involved in education, education would be better. Perhaps if society valued education more, the crime rates would be lower, more people would be qualified for higher paying jobs, and children would be more education-centric.
You are an idiot!
Don’t feed this persons ego.
clueless
I have read about 40 comments and no where – no darn where – do I see anything from Ryan Burbey. Why in the world does the leader of HCEA have nothing to say?
Because he has failed.
It takes guts to stand up to the government. I don’t see a great deal of people doing it.
That is because it takes more than guts. It takes guts, money, power, and the right attorney.
On behalf of all the hcps maintenance worker I’d like to thank the teachers for taking the cuts and leaving us guys alone. For anyone out of work on yer day off come on up the the wawa in hickory and use can hang out wit me and the boys making fun of jim in hickory in his green pu truck. Heck I’ll by yer coffee.
I’m very sad. 🙁
When I was a student in Harford County schools, there was no such thing as Instructional Facilitators, Mentor Teachers, School Psychologists and Guidance Counselors in elementary schools. This is where the cuts should be made – not in classroom teachers. Harford County officials once again demonstrate their inability to make appropriate budget allocations. Its shades of Obama – cut them where it hurts the most.
Shall we assume you went to school a VERY long time ago then? School counselors and school psychologists have actually been working in schools for quite a while. Perhaps you were lucky enough not to need their services, so that may be why you didn’t know they existed? Their services are actually very important and NEEDED in meeting the mental health needs of students, not to mention assisting in crises that occur and participating in special education and 504 team processes, etc. These are just a few examples of what their responsibilities are. Also, in case you were not aware, counselors and school psychologists are considered teachers by contract in HCPS, and they are paid on the teacher salary scale. So, please check your facts before you start proposing cuts to positions that aren’t even close to being part of the problem.
I think the question ought to be what is the role of schools..if it’s to teach then we don’t need counselors or psycologists. I can see the need for a school nurse but you’re not going to solve a mental health issue in an hour at school. Kids that are that at risk should be referred to a mental health professional outside the purview of the public school.
Look at COMAR regulations or IDEA, and other legislation that requires the provision of these services of these professionals within the school setting… Have you considered special education? That’s not just a teacher-specific process…
No one said a counselor or psychologist was going to solve a mental health issue in an hour at school. Do you really think an outside provider solves it in an hour? Do you think mental health concerns just stay at home while the student is at school? Are all students equipped with the social skills, coping skills, and behavioral regulation ability to independently get through a school day without occasional or regular guidance or assistance from a professional outside of instruction? Are all parents able to pay for an outside provider? Did you know that many mental health concerns- short term and long term- are identified at school? Just some questions to consider…
You do bring up a good question though- what is the role of schools? These days, the role of public schools is so comprehensive and broad. So, unless that role becomes much more narrow and focused, the need for additional professionals beyond teachers will be necessary in the schools.
All of what you say if fine but it’s not teaching. If we want the schools to handle every issue a kid might have or the kids family then fine, but if the point is to teach then we don’t need all that. I can’t imagine who thinks the taxpayers are responsible for teaching social skills at school.
“Look at COMAR regulations or IDEA, and other legislation that requires the provision of these services of these professionals within the school setting…” <– This is exactly why positions like School Psychologist exist. They are the only qualified professionals to administer IQ testing and testing for processing disorders (like dyslexia)– and those scores are needed to document the existance of educational disabilities that impact a child's ability to access a "free and appropriate public education." School Psychologist work in many buildings– not just one. They are required members of IEP teams, and critical to the Special Education process– from identifying to justifying the continued need for services as defined by IDEA, which is Special Education Law.
Experienced Educator:
Unfortunately too many parents believe the school psychologist is an acceptable provider for care that truly requires a medical professional in private practice.
Students are actually pulled from classes to attend group therapy and individual sessions that are provided by outside contractors. If a student’s family cannot afford mental health care, do you really want to be the one to say “hey, Johnny wouldn’t have did X to a certain student because he could not see someone when he was in crisis.” Have you ever had a student in crisis. I mean real crisis, like they are about to kill themselves crisis? It is not easy to talk someone out of it and I wouldn’t have to live with that on my mind.
School psychologists and counselors spend more time filling out paperwork than actually doing anything for the students. Their role is to document so as to cover the school system’s legal liability. Last time I checked, its the Board of Education – not the Board of Mental Health.
How do you know this? Is this something you have personally observed? Do you know a school psychologist who has told you this? You must have some experience in dealing with these individuals for you to know how they occupy their time at work.
These services provided by Villa Maria I believe are not school system employees.
Yeah uh, school “psychologist” is a new one for me. We had guidance counselors.
Why is there such a vast need for mental health professionals in the school system nowadays?
We need mental health professionals in school but they are really needed and educators are not, WTF?
Look at it from the school’s side: You can pack 35 kids in a classroom with only minor parental complaints, but when a 3rd grader stabs another student in the eye because he’s an untreated sociopath, the school would be sued for millions.
Without guidance counselors/school psychologists in the schools the next time some horrific incident occurs in a school there will be thousands of people wondering why nobody noticed this kid needed help.
You could definitely contract out this responsibility, and that’s a reasonable alternative, but that’s not what we’ve decided to do– and the work must be done. If you have ever seen first-hand the real work that is done for students in crisis and in bad family situations, you would know how essential this work is.
My children, long grown, went to HCPS when it was a decent school system and the teachers and administration cared. I’m so glad that my grandchildren aren’t attending HCPS now. We moved from Aberdeen for a variety of reasons and settled in Delaware after my daughter made the move. my grand-daughter thrived in middle school and made the leap in to high school with no problems her first year. She would have gone to AHS had they not moved and from what I’ve heard that school has become a joke with the principal that they have. I’m not saying that Delaware is the end all be all, but my younger grand-children are thriving in the elementary schools with decent class sizes and teachers that care and have resources. From what I can tell the school HQ administration is way too top heavy with fat cats making big bucks while the teachers in the trenches are treated like second class citizens. You all have my blessings, it’s a noble profession, but it’s hard to succeed in a dysfunctional school system.
Your last statement hits the nail on the head!!! “You all have my blessings, it’s a noble profession, but it’s hard to succeed in a dysfunctional school system.”
I am still trying to figure out how administrators are chosen? If these schools are in this situation with the lose of
teachers, someone needs to get out there see what adminstrators are doing? are they in the classrooms or running out the front door when parents want to conference with them? This will not stop until parents stand up to the Board of education and raise HOLY Hell! Tell them their stories and if that does not work, call Maryland State Department of Education! Ring their phones off the hook!
This will not stop until parents demand that the school system be properly funded by County Executive Craig and the County Council. If they won’t do as we demand then throw them out of office in November.
Rumor has it that in Patterson Mill Middle, the home ec, health, and communications teachers were laid off.
I would be surprised if a health teacher were cut. Sex education is the one curriculum that remains sacrosanct to the crowd running public schools today.
It can be taught in 7th grade science! That is how HCPS used to do it before health teachers. Health was taught in science. A few middle schools still do!
Isn’t health required?
Is this “home ec” or foods? Foods is part of the pathways. So those students who have pathways started won’t be able to finish them there? What about the child development classes? Are they being taken away? Those are part of a pathway, too. Are the students being given the option to transfer to another school so they can finish and not have to restart their pathways? If not, that is really going to be difficult for a senior.
My heart goes out to those teachers if it is true.
One of my numerous sources inside PMMHS says two unified arts teachers and a health teacher were transferred from the middle school; two high school teachers were flat-out laid off. It would be interesting to see where else and how else the bloodletting went down. As others have noted, good teachers are always expendable, so it seems; superfluous or incompetent administrators, not so much.
Incompetence is rewarded, competence gets you more work, less praise, and less pay.
How about one of the adminstrators being required to teach the class? They know it all to address teachers in observations then they should be able to teach the class???????
Family and Consumer Science is what they call Home Ec now. The MS FACS program has nothing to do with the pathways. Sadly there are a lot of people in the systems that don’t see the need for life skill type classes. All they are concerned with is getting AP numbers and kids to college. It wouldn’t surprise me if numbers in certain pathways are low then they will get eliminated. Kids will be told to choose another.
The county executive bears responsibility for every single teacher layoff. The fact of the matter is, taxes need to be raised. HCPS cannot provide a high quality education any longer without an increase in revenue. His political aspirations are clearly in the way of securing the viability of this school system. He may be able to say that he didn’t raise taxes, but the layoffs are surely a factor that he now has to deal with. This is all just damn shameful.
Correct I blame David Craig and the county council for this. Barry Glassman better tell me what he would have done if he wants my vote!
It saddens me to see the front line teacher suffer because the mismanagement of the school administration. School psychologists and counselors are needed in our schools but facilitators and a second Vice Principal are thing in the schools we can cut. We also can look at Central Office and find plenty of extra positions that can go. All my children have attend HCPS and for the most part have had wonderful teachers. I have reached out to both teachers and counselors this last school year and they have help me with any issue I needed resolved for my children. I never called Central Office to resolve any issue with my child’s education. I support the teacher in the school and would rather have one more teacher in the school than a facilitator or the multiple Central Office manager that do nothing to educate our children. The only draw back I see is with teachers is the tactics of the teachers Union President. He does more to hurt the cause of the teachers. He just doesn’t come off that good to the people/tax payers of Harford County.
Exactly what tactics do you find so offensive?
Exactly what tactics do you find offensive?
Ryan, your skin must be made of HSRI tiles…
… sorry, HRSI tiles. Look it up : )
Dude, Why are you fighting for these pay raises, there is no money! Go fight in a combat zone over in Iraq and then loose your leg for your country and have the V.A. cut your benefits, tell me who has it rough. There is No money bro stop fighting!
Back off.
When a ship is on fire, and there is no hope of extinguishing that fire, the ship must be abandoned. When the captain and officers on the ship are both incompetent and have no regard for the crew’s well being, the ship must be abandoned. When the captain and officers are ensured of a nice, comfortable lifeboat to safety while the crew spits on the fire to put it out, the ship must be abandoned.
I am a HCPS teacher who is dedicated to helping the young people of our nation achieve their goals. I have worked hard, and made many mistakes, to get to the point where I consider myself pretty good at my job. I believe I have have value in the classroom.
They simply don’t care.
They don’t believe the crew will abandon the ship. That’s why they don’t help us.
It’s time to go, folks. At least to start looking for a way off this burning ship.
I love this narrative that “they don’t care.” Very effective talking point.
“They” are spending $424 MILLION dollars. When does it end? 20 million more to fully fund the school budget this year? How much more will it be next year? It seems to me that it is time to start making more structural changes to decrease the cost of educating our children. Clearly the current system is not sustainable.
Give us some suggestions on these structural changes.
Interesting that a post above equates “caring” to a dollar amount. This is for you who feel teachers should accept the situation:
In case you didn’t realize this, we are raising your children more hours a day than you are. We are their teachers, mentors, role models, confidants, and shoulders to cry on. We’ll see how you feel when the quality and care they were getting has moved on.
Also, “they” are spending nothing other than the taxes they pay as citizens. You can’t be so naive as to think their bank accounts are taking a hit. They aren’t. I fully agree structural changes need to made. What the power players don’t understand is that they have taken the high quality of HCPS teachers for granted. They have forgotten, or just don’t care, about all the time and effort we put above and beyond our contractual obligation.
You’ve all been spoiled by the work we do and now its time to ante up.
Would you prefer a lineup of teachers that simply copy worksheets out of the curriculum and assess the standards? The education system is just like any other in this capitalist society we live in. Because we have not been recognized and reimbursed appropriate to the service we provide, you can no longer assume your students will be getting the high quality instruction you have come to expect. Unhappy with that? You made it so. You forced our hand. Hear that power players?
With most of us needing to take on another job we simply won’t have the time to give what we’ve been giving.
You will find out very soon that you get what you pay for. Don’t wanna pay for it? Fine. There are other opportunities elsewhere.
For more money, more respect, and none of this bullshit.
As I have said in earlier posts, its time to reap what you have sown.
Too many fed and state laws and regulations requiring positions that are not in the classroom and not helping kids learn
Actually, if the captain and officers are ensured of a nice, comfortable lifeboat to safety while the crew spits on the fire to put it out, it would be time for a Mutiny……
Can’t do it. Against contract. We’d open ourselves up to prosecution as well as risk our certification. Still, it would be interesting to see what would happen if Harford County teachers all didn’t “feel well” on the first day of school…
Ryan, care to chime in…?
The contract doesn’t prevent you from moving to a private school.
I just worked three 12.5 hour days last week to finish report cards and all the other paperwork and nonteaching work that has to be done. How many IF’s (instructional facilitators) worked that long? Were any IF’s cut or was it just teachers and those who work in classrooms with kids? Do we really need that many IF’s? Don’t they make six figures? Does no one question this?
The IF salary is not 6 figures, and is a matter of public record like all salaries. They are a position between a principal and a 12 month ass’t principal. And… MY Instructional Facilitator stays later than almost every teacher in my school, answers calls after hours, stays for night duties, etc. She is a hard working, knowledgable, and valuable resource. She makes a difference in my middle school, so speak for yourself and stop throwing others under the bus. She makes sure teachers are encouraged and challenged. Some teachers — probably the loudest teachers– are being put on improvement plans. They complain loudly in school, too, but we know they sleep in class, show up late, show movies, etc. I’ll be sad to see my IF go next year. I wish she was my principal!
It was stated at the BOE meeting that salary and benefits put IFs well over 100K per year and that it costs HCPS almost 2 million per year for the 17 IFs in the system. Do the math. That’s a lot of teacher positions.
“Salary and benefits” is the key term.
The employer-contributed side of benefits for a white collar professional can be quite expensive.
IF’s make close to 100K. I have been very disappointed in my IF’s. One women was do clueless about everything. I felt dumber after every meeting. They will never go away because principals rely on them too much.
Not if they disagree. If the IF and the principal are butting heads and the IF leaves, then you are stuck with the principal. Is there an adjustment period? No, the principal expects what he expects.
Well how great that is for you…let me tell you what my IF does. And by the way, my IF has been in the system for 40 years now and makes over 110,000. My If….
1. Does not stay after school and is the first one out the door.
2. Comes into school well after 9am when her duty day starts the same as mine….8:30 am.
3. Is consistently late to most faculty meetings and makes excuses when she walks in late. I wonder what would happen if I was always late to faculty meetings.
4. Demands to get reimbursed for supplies that she wastes to justify her six figure job. How come I don’t get paid for supplies I buy?
5. Takes almost an entire school year to get back observations because she is too busy sitting at her desk on the days she happens to actually show up dreaming up all the extra stuff she wants us to do…once again justifying her six figure job.
6. Makes us read books she finds for book clubs that she has never read herself only to find after the fact that they are crap and don’t follow her standards.
7. Directs us to others when asking questions because she has absolutely no clue what goes on in the classrooms anymore since she is so far removed.
I am sure that I could go on and on. However, I am sure that you get where I am going. The IF positions are a waste.
You are so lucky to have such a wonderful IF! I wish they all could be like that!
ten months a year–decent pay. If you don’t like it, quit and get another job. Wait. Most people work 12 months a year. Most people don’t have snow days. Most people can’t call in sick if the sun doesn’t look right in the sky. Most people are held accountable and can be fired if they’re incompetent, unlike teachers. Still look like a tough job?
Most teachers teach sick because they don’t want subs who are not as student centered as they are. Coverage could happen, but that is like stabbing your friends in the back and besides, if you have to teach all day and you lose your planning period, do you really want to cover another class when you have grading to do or parents to call?
Dear Mike, no one is perfect unlike you. I am sure if the job that you hold, gave you a five year decrease in contractual pay while also raising the cost of your insurance to the point that you struggle to pay your bills you would be upset. A job that you went to college, earned a degree and more during the many years that you worked. (Also working summers which most teachers do.) And suddenly someone says the dumb comment “Quit and get another job.” without any true idea of a teacher workday is a fool. You have no idea of the paperwork, extra time, money, effort, classes, meetings, activities, tutoring, planning, also not to mention the changes in education updates that happen every year, and yet we want to teach. Snow days are added at the end of the year. If my child or I am sick why do we not have the right to stay home. (You wouldn’t?) If a teacher is not doing the job, then they should go. The good ones should not be thrown out as well. Please think before you cast the stones.
You really know nothing about teachers at all! When you have walked a mile in my shoes than I will give your comments a minute of my time!
Hey genius, give it a shot for one day. Just one. Until you know what we do for a living from experience keep your enlightened wisdom to yourself. ‘k?
I don’t think one day will cover it. Try a week. Then they might be called in for an IEP meeting during their planning, after having to do parent calls, after having planned, after having to make technology part of your curriculum, after reading any materials you need to read to have ready for class because the curriculum has changed, after making accomodations for each child’s IEP which is different, after grading, ….
The thing about sick days when they are taken is you have to plan for that day and the next. Then you come back to all that grading. Hopefully the sub followed the plans and all the children behaved themselves as a testament to your classroom management. So taking a sick day is more work than it is worth…coming to school sick is easier somedays.
The thing about snow days is you have to have the next day also planned because you won’t necessarily receive a planning if school is delayed.
Most teachers take work home to grade over weekends, holidays, and sick days. Most teachers plan at home as well. During the summer teachers plan what they are doing for the year overall, work on the first few days of school planning, etc. The curriculum is always changing so you need to change with it. Add to it the new evaluation system, PARCC assessments upcoming, and HSA training. If teachers clocked in an out or had keystrokes read as they worked on the computer, if you added up all the time they worked, you would see that teachers earn way below a living wage.
WAHAHAHAHAHA MIKE. Does your P hurt much? You have no clue and it’s obvious. Now go talk to your kids for the first time this week while the teachers raise them.
Raising the students is true. They come to teachers more often then you think for advice on everything from dating to how to act in certain situations. Some go to teachers because they are safe, if you had a chaotic home and could not study, wouldn’t you stay after school with a teacher? Also, being smart is not always cool. Perhaps at their house they are not supported for trying to excell. Most kids end up inviting a teacher or two to senior night at their sport events and ask if a certain teacher will be at graduation. Teachers are important in their lives. Most students see their teachers more often than their parents, which is sad.
I was a teacher in Harford County for over 25 years. I have since retired. We had all these problems back when I was teaching, but we didn’t make these problems public. We adjust, concur and move on, what good is it to complain about. Do your job and quit whining. I’m embarrassed to be associated with these new teachers . Teachers make a good pay check. Don’t like it change your career. You got into the profession to mold and help student not complain about your paycheck
I don’t know how long ago you retired or what position you held when you left but teaching today is not what it used to be and there are plenty of legitimate reasons to voice concerns. That you chose to grin and bear it does not mean others should do the same.
Keeping it private, huh? Just like the teachers who went on strike in 1975-76? You must have been a revisionist history teacher?
Former teacher. Um… no. Good try though.
Just cause you are spineless should we be? Good thing others in history didn’t take your point of view or who knows where we would be today. I bet you were really hard on the kids for chewing gum. “Spit that gum out”…wow..what a tough day.
You didnt have self proclaimed Marxist trying to push their collectivist agenda on students back then.
Well I just took in the information from the Sun Paper today about HCPS budget. I see that the elected members voted against this budget, but those appointed by the Governor all voted for the budget. They voted against cutting their budget which was proposed by Bob Frisch. First cut $25,000 from the $55,000 legal fees account, then $10,000 cut from the $25,000 meeting and conference and the last is to eliminate the Facilitators position (six figures) all failed! We can never touch the “Ivory Towers”budget. The process of budgeting for the schools is a game between the Board and Superintendent, where the teachers are set up for disappointment. They approve a pay increase that they know there is way to funded it. So lets now cut teachers jobs because we ( Board and Superintendent) are inept .
Now lets raise funds by taxing parents for their children’s commitment to play sports and being involved in activities. These kids are off the street doing something positive and giving something back to their schools. Maybe these activities could be funded at the Boards expense by cutting their budget. Give back Board and stop taking for yourselves.
June 17th open meeting with all player in this game (Board, Superintendent, and Politicians) may be they can charge us at the door to raise some funds!!!
Interesting that a post above equates “caring” to a dollar amount. This is for you who feel teachers should accept the situation:
In case you didn’t realize this, we are raising your children more hours a day than you are. We are their teachers, mentors, role models, confidants, and shoulders to cry on. We’ll see how you feel when the quality and care they were getting has moved on.
Also, “they” are spending nothing other than the taxes they pay as citizens. You can’t be so naive as to think their bank accounts are taking a hit. They aren’t. I fully agree structural changes need to made. What the power players don’t understand is that they have taken the high quality of HCPS teachers for granted. They have forgotten, or just don’t care, about all the time and effort we put above and beyond our contractual obligation.
You’ve all been spoiled by the work we do and now its time to ante up.
Would you prefer a lineup of teachers that simply copy worksheets out of the curriculum and assess the standards? The education system is just like any other in this capitalist society we live in. Because we have not been recognized and reimbursed appropriate to the service we provide, you can no longer assume your students will be getting the high quality instruction you have come to expect. Unhappy with that? You made it so. You forced our hand. Hear that power players?
With most of us needing to take on another job we simply won’t have the time to give what we’ve been giving.
You will find out very soon that you get what you pay for. Don’t wanna pay for it? Fine. There are other opportunities elsewhere.
For more money, more respect, and none of this bullshit.
As I have said in earlier posts, its time to reap what you have sown.
Let me tell you something, you don’t RAISE my child. You bearly TEACH him. Kids have been dumbed down in public schools for decades. Get off your high horse. You knew the job when you took it. So your not getting a raise… BOO HOO. Be glad you have a job, unlike a lot of people in this country. Some of us are working harder, and longer hours for LESS money. You clowns get the summer off!!! I feel so badly for you. So now your going to hold our kids education hostage because you want more money??? Typical liberal response to real world realities like your government being broke from making promises they couldn’t keep. (knowingly by the way) Get another job if you feel cheated. Jackass.
I’d give you a thumb’s up, but your vs you’re is a pet peeve of mine.
Better get used to it, Kharn. The teachers that know and teach the difference won’t be around very much longer…
Bye Bye!!!!!!
Gee Rich, seems like I hit a nerve. Must’ve been pretty close to the mark to get you so riled up. By the way, when I took this job I expected HCPS to honor the legally binding contract ensuring my steps. Maybe you missed the whole “negotiating in bad faith” fun last year.
You want real world realities? Pay me what I deserve or get in the classroom and do the job yourself. I wish you the very best of luck… try not to call the students “jackasses.”
Oh, and its interesting that you refer to “my government being broke from making promises they couldn’t keep.” I’m pretty sure it was the conservatives who supported funding not one but two wars we couldn’t afford. And that whole “housing” thing…
The state government is broke because of the ridiculous promises made on such things as TEACHERS PENTIONS in the past. Actually, the housing bust was started by Clinton and the liberal ideal of ” everyone deserves a house” horse crap. Nice try, and the Dems have run this state for over 40 years, so keep voting democrat, ’cause its worked out so well thus far right?? I was calling the crybaby teachers jackasses, not the students. By the way, I DO teach my child plenty. Global warming is a farce, our government is taking his rights away at an alarming rate, question authority… ect, ect.
Where did you go to school; do you know how to spell pensions?
Have you read any of? Teachers are loosing their jobs. And no, when we were hired, we were not told that our contracts would not be honored for 5 years in a row. (We are not talking about a raise here.) Think.
Ha ha. Hey Rich Greene, it’s *barely*, not bearly. Oh, and gotta watch that your/you’re distinction too. It’ll sneak up on you and get ya every time.
Thanks for having a non-teaching 12 month job. Please stay there.
Sorry ass, I was just so infuriated at your liberal, socialist, elitists pathetic responses to the main article, that I lost myself. Please, continue being a crybaby.
HAHA….your kids must be the morons that we have to dumb everything down to. I’d love to know who they are. We would all get a good laugh I’m sure. Pathetic parent.
Your dumbing the kids down as a whole CryMuch. (too scared to use your real name?) Part of the socialist plan. (but you already know this) 🙂 Why would you love to know who they are?? Is that a threat??
Socialist plan? Oh dude..you need a hobby…or a life.
So public schools are also dubbing as mental health care facilities now? Is that what I got out of some of the comments.
You can thank the kids’ parents, many do not want the neighbors gossiping about their little darling being sent to an institution or more appropriate facility and requiring HCPS expend significant time and funds to accommodate them in a conventional school.
You must not be a teacher because if you were, you would know about IDEA and all childrens right, including those with any kind of disability, to a free and appropriate education. Hence, the reason for mental health professionals being a part of the education system.
My opinion on this blame game:
Craig-hoarded money and tried to give bonus because he thought it would help him steal the thunder and votes. Also listened to him lecture teachers, which shows his lack of empathy. Shame on him. Lost my REPUBLICAN vote.
BOE-managed to give raises and increase by cutting 60 jobs last year, but can’t find raises and increases by cutting 80 jobs this year and having a higher operational budget. Something amiss?
Burbey-can’t successfully negotiate raises or increase, but wants $400 from non-union members. Power in numbers is bs, you don’t need higher membership to verify people want more money or better treatment (it’s a given). Our hard earned money is being used to support liberal politicians.
To give raises this year would have caused an additional 120 teachers to loose their jobs. The 46 lost today only made up the difference for the rest of the budget shortfall. Your calling out Craig and the county council is accurate. Craig should be retired from politics by the voters and several members of the county council (starting with Slutzky since the rest of the county council follows his lead on school system matters) should suffer the same fate.
How’s that teachers union working out for ya!! LMAO
Blame the union rather than the county or Craig. Wow…you are smart.
Blame someone else, right? I think there is a forest out there, beyond those trees.
Yes Blame the union. After all they take your dues, demand your money when you leave, and tell you that they will make it all better. You all are morons whos constant squabbling is only making our kids more dumb.
As a teacher I am glad kids are being forced to pay for sports and clubs. Maybe now the county citizens will start caring about the abysmal state that our education in this county is in. Maybe they won’t be stupid enough to vote Craig for governor.
TEACHERS…nothing will get done until you committ to NOT doing anything extra…clubs, activities, plays, sports, tutoring…anything. We NEED to do this and come together. Work to Rule isn’t enough. A message must be sent that we have had enough. Many teachers are talking about this very thing for next year.
Man…I read my posts and I really am an a-hole
Can I give you a few opinions from the BOE meeting I attended?
We are waiting?
First, Burbey is just dumb. He looks like crap and no one listens to him. Vote him out. If you want to make something happen, you need a leader who can bring a thousand teachers to a BOE meeting and make a real statement.
Second, the BOE needs to do some homework. They only really considered the amendments that were given to them. Frisch tried to cut Instructional Facilitators, only to bring back language teachers in the middle school. The BOE needs to examine the budget in depth and make their own amendments. Damn, cut the fat and leave the teachers alone. You can’t find fat in the huge budget….ridiculous.
Work to rule is just dumb and most teachers won’t do it.
Lets not be too hard on Burbey, He has a job to do, which is more like a losing battle. He puts valiant effort into his work and causes. He needs fresh meat, new innovative ideas. Original unions fought in ways that are unproductive in our time. The union needs to evolve into group who is collaboration and collecting new age bargaining “tactics. For example staging a profession development sit out. Union members can use personal time and not arrive. The message would get across. Maybe stage a resignation day during the first professional development day. If 3200 teacher arrive indicating the are resigning due to inadequate funding, HR will be having a night mare. They don’t have the manpower to hire that many teachers in a day, and the sims system only carries about 200 subs. I think they might want to reconsider raises, plus Craig will look really bad because if he had been more flexible, this wouldn’t have happen. The best thing of all, it doesn’t cost money, won’t use union dues, and Burbey doesn’t need to lead the forces.
No it would be a great thing if 3200 teachers resigned. There are plenty of people out there trying to get jobs that would do the job for much less. Greed at its finest, and again you prove its all about you, and money. No wonder kids in Harford county schools are getting dumber by the day.
So the teachers want their step increases, and that makes them greedy? Ok. Fair enough.
But what about all the people who demand they be willing to work for less because they don’t want to fund it? Isn’t that greedy? What about all the people who moan and groan and call teachers names because the teachers no longer are willing to do all the extra free stuff they’ve been doing for years? Isn’t that greedy? What about all the people who expect not to have to spend an extra dime on their own kids education (for supplies, etc) because the school system should pay for EVERYTHING? Isn’t that greedy?
I’m continually amazed at how so many people who want more, demand more, expect more from the schools and teachers without having to pay more are the first in line to spew vitriol when the people doing all the work also want more. It’s perfectly fine for you to want everyone to work for nothing on behalf of your kids, but if they expect something they need for their own families they are greedy pondscum. Sheesh!
The kids are getting dumber because of their parents….not the teachers…..You will see a big change in the quality of students graduating when the parents actually step up and act like parents and not act like their kids friends. Teachers are unable to hold students accountable because the parents interfere.
Actually, Kids are getting dumber because of the practice of overlooking fundamental skills. I think that the Harford County Teachers do a good job educating our children, but the use of calculators and other methods that bypass fundamental skills for the sake of advanced educational development. In my day, we were never allowed to use a calculator in public school, that’s why at the age of 40 I can still claim that I have my fundamental math skills. When a student gets used to not using their brain on fundamental skills, they seem to only retain half the skills taught. Parents should participate with the teachers when it is pointed out that their kids lack these skills. Instead they want to blame the teachers and everyone else when these issues arise, skirting the reality of the situation that the kids need additional teaching of the fundamentals. Who cares about blame, just correct the situation. Now, there are going to be fewer teachers for more students, creating more opportunity for students to slip through the cracks of a schools curriculum. This is not what our society needs to expect our children to compete in a modern working environment.
A Soul Crusher post that isn’t ranting about something off-topic, no profanity or harsh language, and actually has a valid point? Thumbs up.
During the meeting it became clear that the amendments offered by the Superintendent were the driven by private discussions with the BOE before the meeting. I don’t like the budget either and attempts to eliminate IFs or increase foreign language teachers is nothing new for Mr. Frisch. Did you examine budget in depth? What recommendations did you make on where to find the fat?
I’ve read all the comments and I’m still reeling at the amount of money voted to be spent on weight rooms. Are you kidding me?? Are they trying to outdo each other…seeing who can have the most flat screens? (good luck beating BAHS’ wastefulness) Is no one else outraged at this ridiculous waste of money?
You teachers sure know how to bitch and moan. Be thankful you have a job, health insurance and other benefits. NOTHING make you people happy.
Agreed. Their constant whining has really turned most off to their cause. Go cry elsewhere you greedy teachers.
So teachers aren’t given their step increases for years, continue to work extra hours covering coaching and sponsoring clubs for little to no additional money, should be available at the beck and call of any parent or student who needs their attention, spend their own money on classroom and student supplies, etc. And when they complain about this treatment they are called all kinds of names and are greedy and selfish.
But not the people who demand all the free services they provide, refuse to reward their efforts, demand and expect their continuing compliance, and call the teachers names when they’ve had enough of this ridiculous arrangement. Nope. These people are not the slightest bit greedy.
So the person who doesn’t want to work for free is greedy, but the person who tries to screw him out of being paid is not?
Whether or not you are paid extra for the service as a teacher, nothing provided by the public school system is ‘free’ to parents, and parents aren’t trying to “screw” you out of anything. Most of them are in the same boat you are…
By all means please don’t volunteer for any extra time with the kids, you don’t seem to like them or have any respect for their parents, which by the way will affect how parents view all the budget discussions…
Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put thing in perspective and pay them for what they do – babysit! We can get that for minimum wage. That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That …would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to……… 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan– that equals 6 1/2 hours). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations. LET’S SEE…. That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year. Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is!
The average teacher’s salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student–a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!!
Heaven forbid we take into account highly qualified teachers or NCLB…
Wahhhhh = Mike = the other pathetic saps here that just want to stir up trouble from the basement of their 800,000 house
I am an HCPS teacher, and I am finishing up my seventh year of teaching. My father taught for 35 years in this county (not getting his step increase only once during that time), and I knew what I was getting into financially when I took this job. I have met all that has been required of me during my time as a teacher and then some. I have volunteered time for multiple after school activities not expecting any financial reimbursement. Teachers obviously do not get into this profession for the money. When I was hired I signed a contract that stated that I would get step increases for each year of service and for continuing my education (something that I am required to do or I will lose my certification). The majority of these costs are not covered by the county. I am being paid as a fourth year teacher who has his masters degree. I am required to teach larger classes, meet higher standards, frequently update Edline and Performance Matters, meet all special education needs, and do it all for less than I was told I would receive. I believe that I feel the same as many other HCPS teachers – we are asking for our step increases because we have earned them. We are not asking for a cost of living increase. I have a young family that I am trying to provide for, and I want what I have earned just like any other professional who has not gotten what they earned. I would like to end with this: as a teacher I am no longer willing to volunteer any free time. If your child needs extra help call Sylvan. I am no longer willing to perform any duty that I am not legally required to do. I am willing to do the very minimum that is required of me because that is how important the Board views the job that I do. By the way I submitted my application to Cecil County Public Schools this afternoon because they like Baltimore County (our neighbors) have not missed any steps.
I guess the kids really suffered today. The teachers seemed to be spending all day commenting on this site. Dont you have lesson plans and papers to grade?
The last day of school was yesterday, with 3-hour late arrival for the high schools. I assume the only tasks left for the teachers are cleaning their rooms and grading final exams, which they have a few in-service days for.
At my school, we had professional development all three days, were given time to work on student records and had to pack up our classrooms. I did not do nothing for three days. I had to read a book before we had our last professional development yesterday. FYI, we cannot get on the Dagger at school; it is a blocked website.
Actually no to both. It was the last day of school. All the lessons had been delivered, tests taken (except for a few make ups for kids who had been absent) and it was time to celebrate accomplishments and friendships with students and say goodby to some that we will never see again. You do remember those days don’t you? But your pathetic attempt at sarcasm didn’t not go unnoticed and the observation that you are a jerk became crystal clear.
Well if you did nothing all day but seemingly waste the taxpayers dime, I think you need some furlough days. You can celebrate and say goodbye on your own time.
Really, what do you expect to be accomplished on the last day of school. Are you really that bitter?
Shame on the Board and Superintendent they dismiss Instructional Aides (IA’S) that work with Special needs students. They often become part of the family with these children and are vital to them getting through the school year, year after year. We can dismiss these individuals, but keep Teacher Mentors and Facilitators positions on the books. IA’s are true mentors to their students. But we can keep high paid positions and cut those who work every day to stay at the poverty line by the pay they earn. You guys are a disgrace!!!!
Does it make sense fiscally to offer benefits of some sort to make retirement possible for (attractive to) teachers with over 35 years? With so many changes in curriculum and the new teacher evaluation process next year, maybe the training is better spent on teachers staying for more than a year or two.
As a hcps employee, my frustration is coming from so many angles. Why does it seem like we are the only county struggling with our budget, year after year after year? Why are administrative positions not being cut like the rest of us? How will this ever improve? Where are some creative solutions we could consider before automatically dropping some of the lowest paid positions? (skipping county cell phones in favor of stipends, combining underpopulated buildings, closing pools, surely other smart people could think of some more…)
I don’t know about you guys but after Grambo and his cronies made these horrific cuts putting a solemn mood in the classrooms today, Grambo’s wife had no problems sitting at the pool today laughing it up and bad mouthing teachers. What a disgrace.
I have seen Mr. Grambo do the same at the pool as well.
The voters will have the chance to pass judgement on Mr. Grambo and most of the other school board members during the next election.
Teachers don’t think much of Mrs. Grambo either.
Grambo’s wife struts into her kid’s school and thinks she owns the place. Everyone laughs and gets back to work. What a head case!
I know the North Harford Elementary teachers were glad to see her GO.