Today's Wash Post op ed about MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This original post from 2012 and now the exact same thing is happening again. Class sizes are going up again so MCPS staff get a 5% raise. Unbelievable!!

Its not just the teachers but the rest of the staff in MCPS hang off the success of the teachers union. Its disgusting that MCPS puts giving even more employee raises over the students. MCPS doesn't give a crap about education. MCPS exists to support itself.

THERE IS NO "5% RAISE".

I hate to break it to you but in the real world "cost of living adjustments" DO count as a raise. 3% COLA + 2% Step Increase = 5% raise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

THERE IS NO "5% RAISE".

I hate to break it to you but in the real world "cost of living adjustments" DO count as a raise. 3% COLA + 2% Step Increase = 5% raise.

Perhaps you need to do a bit of research before you post. The COLA being given to teachers on late October is 1.5%, NOT 3%. Furthermore, as of July 1, teachers are now 2 steps behind where they should be. As of late October, they will be one step behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

THERE IS NO "5% RAISE".

I hate to break it to you but in the real world "cost of living adjustments" DO count as a raise. 3% COLA + 2% Step Increase = 5% raise.

Perhaps you need to do a bit of research before you post. The COLA being given to teachers on late October is 1.5%, NOT 3%. Furthermore, as of July 1, teachers are now 2 steps behind where they should be. As of late October, they will be one step behind.

And the step increase is only for employees who are eligible for a step increase, which not everybody is.

[Anonymous]

Other employees are not on step but they are still getting raises. IF MCPS leadership lowered the new operating budget increase approved for salary increases by only 1% no direct instructional staff - or other staff- would need to be cut. Its unbelievable that class sizes are getting larger again to support an employee raise.

If this were a sinking ship, MCPS staff would be throwing young children into the ocean scrambling to get their own fat butts into the life boats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other employees are not on step but they are still getting raises. IF MCPS leadership lowered the new operating budget increase approved for salary increases by only 1% no direct instructional staff - or other staff- would need to be cut. Its unbelievable that class sizes are getting larger again to support an employee raise.

If this were a sinking ship, MCPS staff would be throwing young children into the ocean scrambling to get their own fat butts into the life boats.

You (or somebody) keep saying that here. I've yet to see the actual data to support this assertion, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

THERE IS NO "5% RAISE".

I hate to break it to you but in the real world "cost of living adjustments" DO count as a raise. 3% COLA + 2% Step Increase = 5% raise.

Perhaps you need to do a bit of research before you post. The COLA being given to teachers on late October is 1.5%, NOT 3%. Furthermore, as of July 1, teachers are now 2 steps behind where they should be. As of late October, they will be one step behind.
You both are wrong. COLA is 2% in 2015 (see http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/associationrelations/refresh2014/Key%20changes%20in%20Compensation%20and%20Ben(2).pdf). Also, Step Increases are 3% (or more) see http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/ersc/employees/pay/schedules/salary_schedule_current(2).pdf

So most MCPS teachers are receiving AT LEAST 5% increases this year. If a teacher is maxed out, good for you. You're making $105,189 per year. Maybe you can add a coaching position or something.

[Anonymous]

You both are wrong. COLA is 2% in 2015 (see http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/d...ompensation%20and%20Ben(2).pdf). Also, Step Increases are 3% (or more) see http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/d...salary_schedule_current(2).pdf

So most MCPS teachers are receiving AT LEAST 5% increases this year. If a teacher is maxed out, good for you. You're making $105,189 per year. Maybe you can add a coaching position or something."

This. In addition, haven't you noticed that there have been ANY announcements that non-teaching staff will forego raises next year to address the budget? There hasn't even been an announcement on freezing executive pay or central office pay. MCPS staff are helping themselves to more compensation at the expense of the students. The youngest students in K-2 are most harmed by the huge class sizes.

The budget deficit that is driving the instructional staff cuts is nothing compared to the overall operating budget for salary compensation. Its beyond unacceptable to not freeze salary increases by raising class sizes.

Starr started this trend 3 years ago by giving the union and the rest of MCPS employees raises in exchange for larger classes sizes that fiscal officers knew the system could not afford down the road. Of all the stupid things Starr did, this was the most damaging. This is a continuation of that bad policy.

You can't blame the union for always asking for more. You can blame MCPS leaders and the BOE for giving in and serving themselves over the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

THERE IS NO "5% RAISE".

I hate to break it to you but in the real world "cost of living adjustments" DO count as a raise. 3% COLA + 2% Step Increase = 5% raise.

Perhaps you need to do a bit of research before you post. The COLA being given to teachers on late October is 1.5%, NOT 3%. Furthermore, as of July 1, teachers are now 2 steps behind where they should be. As of late October, they will be one step behind.

You both are wrong. COLA is 2% in 2015 (see http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/associationrelations/refresh2014/Key%20changes%20in%20Compensation%20and%20Ben(2).pdf). Also, Step Increases are 3% (or more) see http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/ersc/employees/pay/schedules/salary_schedule_current(2).pdf

So most MCPS teachers are receiving AT LEAST 5% increases this year. If a teacher is maxed out, good for you. You're making $105,189 per year. Maybe you can add a coaching position or something.

You can't attract the best and the brightest with low salaries.

So stop blaming MCPS for being greedy.

Teachers - the scapegoats, eh?

why not examine the INEQUITY in the system instead? The W schools can do well on their own, and whenever the system can't pay for X, the PTA or their foundations will find a way to raise money.

So - to be equitable - shift the money over to the low-performing schools. Make class sizes smaller. Hire the best teachers. Hire more special educators, ESOL teachers, and mental health experts. Pay them more to work with struggling kids in needy areas. Keep finding the extended year for kids who need more support. Add wellness centers to these clusters.

I'm tired of the teacher bashing. These folks are dealing with YOUR kids on a daily basis. Why would you deny them the right to earn a competitive salary?

The ignorance on this forum is - sadly - NOT surprising.

[Anonymous]

Its not teacher bashing to object to funding employee raises in exchange for huge class sizes, especially K-2. Its mismanagement of the budget.

In the eyes of mainstream parents, you give teachers a very bad reputation by fighting that your raise is more important than the children. How dedicated can you be if you think 30 kids in a K class with one teacher is just dandy as long as you get the biggest raise that you can get?

This raise is not going to attract the best and brightest to apply to MCPS. This raise is going to move money into the pockets of MCPS employees at the expense of the students. Its wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its not teacher bashing to object to funding employee raises in exchange for huge class sizes, especially K-2. Its mismanagement of the budget.

In the eyes of mainstream parents, you give teachers a very bad reputation by fighting that your raise is more important than the children. How dedicated can you be if you think 30 kids in a K class with one teacher is just dandy as long as you get the biggest raise that you can get?

This raise is not going to attract the best and brightest to apply to MCPS. This raise is going to move money into the pockets of MCPS employees at the expense of the students. Its wrong.

But this premise is incorrect. There is no funding employee raises in exchange for huge class sizes, here. The actual facts: class sizes in grades one and two will increase from 27 to 28 students at non-focus schools only and to 28 students in all grade three classes. For Grades 4 and 5 class size would increase from 29 to 30 at all schools.

http://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-plan-for-funding-gap-includes-fewer-teachers-larger-class-size/

Now, you may say that these are huge class sizes. OK, but in that case, MCPS already had huge class sizes, even without the employee raises.

[Anonymous]

School systems like Carroll County are losing teachers to other counties because the pay is not competitive. Other school systems that pay better are benefiting because they can hire experienced teachers from other counties as opposed to new teachers fresh out of college. I've looked at the MCPS salary schedule and I can't imagine living in MoCo on that salary. My kids have incredible teachers and they deserve every penny of that pathetic salary.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/education/ph-cc-teacher-resignations-20150708-story.html

[Anonymous]

OMG, are you serious??

The increase to 28 is for K. The higher grades increase more. This is the second significant class size increase in 3 years and both have been driven by prioritizing raises over class sizes. 28 is not the maximum. The formulas are done early and if kids add into the class a new teacher and another class is no longer created. Last year, there were 29 K students in one class at our school even though the size was supposed to be 27. The cuts to para educators and ESL positions are even worse. This is going to happen ON TOP of extending the school day.

I'm a parent that would vote to increase taxes for teacher pay. I would not vote to throw education down the toilet to keep giving raises anyway if the measure didn't pass. This is exactly what is going on. MCPS will give employee raises no matter what the impact on is on students. This is wrong.

Myself and many parents no longer trust MCPS. We are pulling out for private. I will vote Republican in the future because I can't trust that giving my tax dollars to our school system will ever reach the students. I hope you're happy with this outcome because you're bleeding your own system dry and killing off public education supporters.

[Anonymous]

School systems like Carroll County are losing teachers to other counties because the pay is not competitive.

There has never been any data shown that MCPS is losing teachers from pay. There is anecdotal data that young teachers are dropping out because of the testing and curriculum constraints that have gone crazy. There is anecdotal data that teachers drop out because of burn out ….wait for it… from large class sizes and increased demands of standardized testing. MCPS teachers are among the best compensated teachers in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

School systems like Carroll County are losing teachers to other counties because the pay is not competitive.

There has never been any data shown that MCPS is losing teachers from pay. There is anecdotal data that young teachers are dropping out because of the testing and curriculum constraints that have gone crazy. There is anecdotal data that teachers drop out because of burn out ….wait for it… from large class sizes and increased demands of standardized testing. MCPS teachers are among the best compensated teachers in the country.

I'm the PP and I actually completely agree with you. I'm just pointing out that teacher pay does affect where the teachers go. MCPS pays well compared with other school systems, so they seem to be able to retain teachers unlike other school systems. I just wouldn't want to survive on their salary.

[Anonymous]

Mcps still has some of the best salaries in the country. We do not need to increase to compete. Our focus schools and title 1 schools have decent class sizes and ratios. It is all the other schools who have been on top that are now seeing a huge shift in class size & overcrowding that will long-term have a d'être real effect on our schools. It is also likely to drive teachers away because over-crowding, fewer resources, & testing pressure make it hard for teachers to do their job. At many schools, we will now see 28-30 kids with 1 teacher & no aides. It is too much. Which means more sitting & worksheet time for students. Smaller class sizes will lead to better learning. Even dropping that number into the 20-25 range again would make a world of difference, or funding an aide for large classes. This county cannot serve the wide range of needs in schools with huge class sizes.