How big a deal are the recent teacher involuntary transfers?

[Anonymous]

This can definitely effect job satisfaction. Teachers stay at particular schools because they like the subject/grade they are teaching, the team they teach with, the admin, the kids, the families, the commute, etc. If you are uprooted and have to start all over, it can effect your decision to stay in the profession especially if you are given a different grade or subject. In my school we knew about cuts before the deadline so those who were cut had time to plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

Teacher here. Yes it is a big deal, and yes it is also necessary. We are coming off of 20 years of steadily increasing enrollment, and haven't faced this particular situation before (unpredictable enrollment and nationwide teacher shortages), at least not at this scale. The contract still has language from when they were closing schools in the 70s and 80s. There was something about the process in the MOU, and clearly this is something that needs to be negotiated for more general circumstances. For example, they could do an end of June review and identify high priority open jobs and schools/subjects that are staffing heavy to allow the opportunity for voluntary transfers before the mid-July deadline for resigning and end of transfer season. Then by end of July, they could determine involuntary school transfers/placements. After that, it becomes an internal school decision to sort out coverage and any section changes.

It is what it is right now - screaming about it doesn't help. But it's not like this problem will vanish in the next few years - teacher shortages are going to grow worse. This year is the time to negotiate about the process for next summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

The policy, as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement, seems to be that notice has to be given no later than Feb 28.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referencing the February 28th date. That date refers to the projected enrollments principals are given at that time. Principals then notify teachers who will be need to be transferred. There is a job fair so that those teachers have a chance to find another position. If they do not secure a position, then they are placed at a school. The February 28th date is given so that the whole process can be followed as this will be the majority of the involuntary transfers. However, enrollments change and positions at schools can be lost after this date. I'm not sure what people think a teacher can do if his/her position is lost? The schools can't just keep the teacher on with no classroom, and the school can't just have lower numbers in their classes because of projected enrollments are higher than their actual enrollments. It's a big inconvenience when it happens, but it is what it is. Teachers know this can happen. Yes, it makes the job less attractive. Yes, we wish it could be done differently. But it is not a breach of contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

The policy, as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement, seems to be that notice has to be given no later than Feb 28.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referencing the February 28th date. That date refers to the projected enrollments principals are given at that time. Principals then notify teachers who will be need to be transferred. There is a job fair so that those teachers have a chance to find another position. If they do not secure a position, then they are placed at a school. The February 28th date is given so that the whole process can be followed as this will be the majority of the involuntary transfers. However, enrollments change and positions at schools can be lost after this date. I'm not sure what people think a teacher can do if his/her position is lost? The schools can't just keep the teacher on with no classroom, and the school can't just have lower numbers in their classes because of projected enrollments are higher than their actual enrollments. It's a big inconvenience when it happens, but it is what it is. Teachers know this can happen. Yes, it makes the job less attractive. Yes, we wish it could be done differently. But it is not a breach of contract.

What do YOU think the contract says then? Can teachers be transferred to any school at any time with no recourse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

The policy, as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement, seems to be that notice has to be given no later than Feb 28.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referencing the February 28th date. That date refers to the projected enrollments principals are given at that time. Principals then notify teachers who will be need to be transferred. There is a job fair so that those teachers have a chance to find another position. If they do not secure a position, then they are placed at a school. The February 28th date is given so that the whole process can be followed as this will be the majority of the involuntary transfers. However, enrollments change and positions at schools can be lost after this date. I'm not sure what people think a teacher can do if his/her position is lost? The schools can't just keep the teacher on with no classroom, and the school can't just have lower numbers in their classes because of projected enrollments are higher than their actual enrollments. It's a big inconvenience when it happens, but it is what it is. Teachers know this can happen. Yes, it makes the job less attractive. Yes, we wish it could be done differently. But it is not a breach of contract.

Right now I only have what was posted in the News7 piece which quoted the February 28 notification date. Does anyone have the wording on the contract that covers the part in bold? You say it isn’t going against the agreed upon contract, but what in the contract allows for the transfers after that date?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently MCPS involuntarily transferred teachers in the last few weeks. Which violates their contract. How many were affected and will MCPS have to roll that back since it violates the mcea contract? I do understand why they moved teachers from overstaffed to understaffed schools. From the report I heard on the news, I think it was WUSA maybe, Sherwood high school was particularly impacted.

I am an MCPS teacher, and involuntary transfers are not against the contract. If your school loses teacher positions, they transfer teachers, and they start with the teachers who have the least amount of years in MCPS. It happens all the time, so I am not sure why this is any different than in previous years.

I don’t think these were related to lost positions. These are moves MCPS is making to cover shortages at other schools. Since there are no limits on class sizes they are just making classes bigger to grab extra teachers.

Correct. And it is against the contract because teachers are to be told in the middle of February if there is not a position for them at their school for the following year. For teachers to find out at the end of July that they will not be returning to their school in one month and will have to be forced to move to another school is awful. This is not a way to rebuild trust.

[Anonymous]

Unpredictable enrollment. There is your answer, from a pp upstream. Families pouring into the county and teachers moved accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

The policy, as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement, seems to be that notice has to be given no later than Feb 28.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referencing the February 28th date. That date refers to the projected enrollments principals are given at that time. Principals then notify teachers who will be need to be transferred. There is a job fair so that those teachers have a chance to find another position. If they do not secure a position, then they are placed at a school. The February 28th date is given so that the whole process can be followed as this will be the majority of the involuntary transfers. However, enrollments change and positions at schools can be lost after this date. I'm not sure what people think a teacher can do if his/her position is lost? The schools can't just keep the teacher on with no classroom, and the school can't just have lower numbers in their classes because of projected enrollments are higher than their actual enrollments. It's a big inconvenience when it happens, but it is what it is. Teachers know this can happen. Yes, it makes the job less attractive. Yes, we wish it could be done differently. But it is not a breach of contract.

Right now I only have what was posted in the News7 piece which quoted the February 28 notification date. Does anyone have the wording on the contract that covers the part in bold? You say it isn’t going against the agreed upon contract, but what in the contract allows for the transfers after that date?

Google the MCEA MCPS contract for 2022. The language is intentionally vague. It mentions that MCPS will provide MCEA with a list of involuntary transfers in March. It does not explicitly say that the list in March is the final list. It says that teachers will be given as much notice as possible and be provided with a list of vacancies. And yes, there could be a situation where a teacher is transferred mid year. Very unlikely and would be avoided at all costs, but it would not be a violation of contract.

[Anonymous]

McKnight is an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

The policy, as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement, seems to be that notice has to be given no later than Feb 28.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referencing the February 28th date. That date refers to the projected enrollments principals are given at that time. Principals then notify teachers who will be need to be transferred. There is a job fair so that those teachers have a chance to find another position. If they do not secure a position, then they are placed at a school. The February 28th date is given so that the whole process can be followed as this will be the majority of the involuntary transfers. However, enrollments change and positions at schools can be lost after this date. I'm not sure what people think a teacher can do if his/her position is lost? The schools can't just keep the teacher on with no classroom, and the school can't just have lower numbers in their classes because of projected enrollments are higher than their actual enrollments. It's a big inconvenience when it happens, but it is what it is. Teachers know this can happen. Yes, it makes the job less attractive. Yes, we wish it could be done differently. But it is not a breach of contract.

Right now I only have what was posted in the News7 piece which quoted the February 28 notification date. Does anyone have the wording on the contract that covers the part in bold? You say it isn’t going against the agreed upon contract, but what in the contract allows for the transfers after that date?

Google the MCEA MCPS contract for 2022. The language is intentionally vague. It mentions that MCPS will provide MCEA with a list of involuntary transfers in March. It does not explicitly say that the list in March is the final list. It says that teachers will be given as much notice as possible and be provided with a list of vacancies. And yes, there could be a situation where a teacher is transferred mid year. Very unlikely and would be avoided at all costs, but it would not be a violation of contract.

Article 26, Section B, Paragraph 4
Impacted MCEA bargaining unit members will receive notice of involuntary transfer in writing by the third Friday in March and given the opportunity to search for open positions in MCPS Careers (or its digital equivalent) and can attend a system wide meeting held by the Office of Human Resources and Develop- ment to receive appropriate information.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/associationrelations/MCEA_Contract.pdf

I am going back and reading again, but I haven’t found anything that confirms the part in bold.

[Anonymous]

Too late, it has already happened. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

The policy, as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement, seems to be that notice has to be given no later than Feb 28.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referencing the February 28th date. That date refers to the projected enrollments principals are given at that time. Principals then notify teachers who will be need to be transferred. There is a job fair so that those teachers have a chance to find another position. If they do not secure a position, then they are placed at a school. The February 28th date is given so that the whole process can be followed as this will be the majority of the involuntary transfers. However, enrollments change and positions at schools can be lost after this date. I'm not sure what people think a teacher can do if his/her position is lost? The schools can't just keep the teacher on with no classroom, and the school can't just have lower numbers in their classes because of projected enrollments are higher than their actual enrollments. It's a big inconvenience when it happens, but it is what it is. Teachers know this can happen. Yes, it makes the job less attractive. Yes, we wish it could be done differently. But it is not a breach of contract.

Right now I only have what was posted in the News7 piece which quoted the February 28 notification date. Does anyone have the wording on the contract that covers the part in bold? You say it isn’t going against the agreed upon contract, but what in the contract allows for the transfers after that date?

Google the MCEA MCPS contract for 2022. The language is intentionally vague. It mentions that MCPS will provide MCEA with a list of involuntary transfers in March. It does not explicitly say that the list in March is the final list. It says that teachers will be given as much notice as possible and be provided with a list of vacancies. And yes, there could be a situation where a teacher is transferred mid year. Very unlikely and would be avoided at all costs, but it would not be a violation of contract.

Article 26, Section B, Paragraph 4
Impacted MCEA bargaining unit members will receive notice of involuntary transfer in writing by the third Friday in March and given the opportunity to search for open positions in MCPS Careers (or its digital equivalent) and can attend a system wide meeting held by the Office of Human Resources and Develop- ment to receive appropriate information.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/associationrelations/MCEA_Contract.pdf

I am going back and reading again, but I haven’t found anything that confirms the part in bold.

I'm so confused, this has been happening for years. Teachers have been involuntarily transferred throughout the summer and even in the week before school. Were all those transfers a violation of the contract?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a big deal. It's not like every school is the same commute or administration. It can impact a family, before care, after care, and so many other things. These placements should be determined in the spring, not one month before returning to work. If MCPS doesn't want to lose more teachers, they should be considerate. Ask for volunteers. Allow for these teachers to resign without prejudice so they can go to another county (if desired). Follow the staffing guidelines set forth each year. Anyone saying it's not a big deal have no idea how this can become a huge issue for teachers.

There are schools where projected enrollments can differ a lot from actual enrollment. The county needs the flexibility to be able to move teachers around. All this bellyaching just makes it seem like teachers and the teacher's union don't care about kids. If a teacher doesn't like the policy they are welcome to leave.

The policy, as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement, seems to be that notice has to be given no later than Feb 28.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referencing the February 28th date. That date refers to the projected enrollments principals are given at that time. Principals then notify teachers who will be need to be transferred. There is a job fair so that those teachers have a chance to find another position. If they do not secure a position, then they are placed at a school. The February 28th date is given so that the whole process can be followed as this will be the majority of the involuntary transfers. However, enrollments change and positions at schools can be lost after this date. I'm not sure what people think a teacher can do if his/her position is lost? The schools can't just keep the teacher on with no classroom, and the school can't just have lower numbers in their classes because of projected enrollments are higher than their actual enrollments. It's a big inconvenience when it happens, but it is what it is. Teachers know this can happen. Yes, it makes the job less attractive. Yes, we wish it could be done differently. But it is not a breach of contract.

Right now I only have what was posted in the News7 piece which quoted the February 28 notification date. Does anyone have the wording on the contract that covers the part in bold? You say it isn’t going against the agreed upon contract, but what in the contract allows for the transfers after that date?

Google the MCEA MCPS contract for 2022. The language is intentionally vague. It mentions that MCPS will provide MCEA with a list of involuntary transfers in March. It does not explicitly say that the list in March is the final list. It says that teachers will be given as much notice as possible and be provided with a list of vacancies. And yes, there could be a situation where a teacher is transferred mid year. Very unlikely and would be avoided at all costs, but it would not be a violation of contract.

Exactly. I have seen it happen before where a teacher was involuntarily transferred I think the Wednesday or Thursday of pre-service week so so she only had a day to move everything to her new building. My principal felt terrible but her hands were tied

. I think the newsworthiness is more that this is happening to so many teachers all at once. That's unusual

[Anonymous]

Yes, MCPS treats teachers like widgets, not like the professionals they are. They can be pulled out of one school and put into another (or 2 others, .5 at one and .5 at another), at will. It SUCKS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, MCPS treats teachers like widgets, not like the professionals they are. They can be pulled out of one school and put into another (or 2 others, .5 at one and .5 at another), at will. It SUCKS.

Yes, but it’s “for the kids”.
Teachers are expendable and mcps treats them as such. They always have (at least for the 25 years I’ve been in the county). I saw this happen to teachers my first year, it is one reason that I’ve been at the same school for my entire 25 years.
Parents, remember this the next time DCUM tells you had strong the contract is and how the union runs everything. They don’t. The contract is purposely vague. Teachers have little professional autonomy and increasingly less personal autonomy (see the health insurance issue).