MCPS Reaches Agreement with MCEA to Raise Teachers' Wages

[Anonymous]

Source: https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2023/04/montgomery-co-creates-budget-with-teachers-union-to-increase-wages/

Montgomery County Public Schools reached a tentative agreement with the Montgomery County Education Association on Friday that would increase teachers’ salaries over the next two years

According to an MCPS news release, teachers in the union would start with an annual salary increase of $5,602 for ten-month employees and $6,583 for twelve-month employees in the 2023-2024 school year.

For the 2024-2025 school year, salaries would increase by $2,918 for ten-month employees and $3,428 for twelve-month employees.

These increases are meant to address the rising cost of living and recognize the value teachers bring to the county. This period of wage increases would also fulfill the Old Line State’s mandate that teachers have a starting salary of $60,000 over the next two years, which is part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation passed in 2021.

Some educators and advocates requested in December that the annual minimum salary outlined in the blueprint’s mandate be increased to match inflation. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board shot down that request because it would require a major change in the legislation by state lawmakers.

[Anonymous]

I hope they are increasing sub pay as part of the deal, or teachers will still have to spend their planning periods covering for colleagues who are out.

[Anonymous]

It should be pointed out that this favors employees at the lower steps as a percentage pay increase. Higher paid teachers are often getting a pay raise that works out to be less than inflation just in the last year. We are still 15% paid lower that 15 years ago once you adjust for inflation. Pension and benefits is more costly to the county since the state started require school systems to put more into the pensions.

[Anonymous]

Well it’s something but I wish it was more, that subs and paras were also getting significant increases, and that they would lift the caps on lateral transfers.
I’m a mom and it’s three kids in the system not a teacher. We’ve had a lot of great teachers and every year some of them leave…it’s so important to keep good teachers! Sad that McPS is now barely keeping up with a state wide minimum when we are the richest and most expensive county in the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It should be pointed out that this favors employees at the lower steps as a percentage pay increase. Higher paid teachers are often getting a pay raise that works out to be less than inflation just in the last year. We are still 15% paid lower that 15 years ago once you adjust for inflation. Pension and benefits is more costly to the county since the state started require school systems to put more into the pensions.

Note also that higher step teachers get more total pay for the same hours, and lower step teachers are getting paid less (adjusted for inflation) than higher step teachers were paid when they were lower step.

If you aren't getting paid what you are worth, the problem isn't in the pay of teachers getting paid less than you;th problem is in the total budget.

[Anonymous]

60k starting salary is nothing to sneeze at

Over time you still lose out because there aren't any promotions but that is a very generous starting salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope they are increasing sub pay as part of the deal, or teachers will still have to spend their planning periods covering for colleagues who are out.

Same.

We came back from Easter and within days, I was exhausted and frazzled again because of coverage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:60k starting salary is nothing to sneeze at

Over time you still lose out because there aren't any promotions but that is a very generous starting salary.

DCPS starting salary for 12 months is $75,000: https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

For 10-months, it's $63,000. So not so competitive with our next-door neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:60k starting salary is nothing to sneeze at

Over time you still lose out because there aren't any promotions but that is a very generous starting salary.

I would say $60k is the bare minimum starting salary they should offer. In a just world it would be $70k. Inflation is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:60k starting salary is nothing to sneeze at

Over time you still lose out because there aren't any promotions but that is a very generous starting salary.

In most industries employees get pay increases based on the subjective assessments of their supervisors, but teachers' unions don't want that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:60k starting salary is nothing to sneeze at

Over time you still lose out because there aren't any promotions but that is a very generous starting salary.

In most industries employees get pay increases based on the subjective assessments of their supervisors, but teachers' unions don't want that.

And in most cases they are not COLAs. They are “merit increases” that rarely take true merit into account. People make money because the apply for promotions or switch companies.

[Anonymous]

Not enough to entice people to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:60k starting salary is nothing to sneeze at

Over time you still lose out because there aren't any promotions but that is a very generous starting salary.

In most industries employees get pay increases based on the subjective assessments of their supervisors, but teachers' unions don't want that.

I work in tech. I get quarterly raises that have nothing to do with "subjective assessments" or even merit. The outrage people in other industries give teachers is so pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:60k starting salary is nothing to sneeze at

Over time you still lose out because there aren't any promotions but that is a very generous starting salary.

In most industries employees get pay increases based on the subjective assessments of their supervisors, but teachers' unions don't want that.

I work in tech. I get quarterly raises that have nothing to do with "subjective assessments" or even merit. The outrage people in other industries give teachers is so pathetic.

My spouse works in tech too. There are no raises and you have to job jump for more money.

[Anonymous]

This is a COLA people. Are some of you really trying to argue that teachers don’t at least deserve a cost of living increase?