Yeah, principals find workarounds when they have an agenda. Some are strict rule followers but most have learned to work the system. It’s a hard spot to be in as a teacher. In very obvious cases or seniority it’s harder to mess around with the usual order of business though.

It is not last hired in the building, but last hired within the county. They have to look at their staffing and certification of the staff members. They have to justify the cuts, but they do have wiggle room to make the decisions. They can't just go based on seniority, because one teacher may have more years, but not the certification for the subject area.

I was once placed on the involuntary transfer list even though I had seniority. The last one hired was a man, and the school has so few men, they kept him instead of me. I ended up staying because another teacher ended up leaving, opening up a position for me.

It’s McPS so everything is at the whim of the principal. And this year there are way too many acting principals so it will fall in the weird in between fi the acting principal and the new principal. Good luck!

Keep in mind it is based off who has the most experience in the county system not just in the school. Someone who has prior experience will “outrank” someone who has been at that school longer but fewer overall years in the system.

Anonymous wrote:For MCPS teachers or admin...in elementary school, I know involuntary transfers are done on a last hired, first out basis. For middle and high school, is it the same or is it content based? Or is it the same but within the content. (For example-say they need to cut a math position...would the last hired math teacher would be the first to go...OR would the last hired teacher in the building go first, regardless of content...?) Hope this makes sense. Thanks!

Last hired math. Unless they are untenured (still in first three years).

Anonymous wrote:The last hired teacher within that content, I believe. It wouldn't make sense otherwise.

+1
It depends on the course selections of the HS students, how the admin decides to do the sectioning, and certifications of the teachers (with projected assignment).

For example, say this year they had a lot of 9th graders so they hired an additional Biology teacher. But next year there’s not that many 9th graders. They could put that teacher on involuntary transfer. But maybe the teacher is dual certified so they can also teach chemistry and roll up with the grade. If science is still overstaffed, then they would look at a different science certification area (physics, ESS, electives) that doesn’t have enough enrollment and that teacher is transferred instead.

Schools can also shift over/under-staffing from one department to another by decisions they make regard elective enrollment. For example, our school offered a new elective one year (3 sections) and it was very popular. The following year 8 sections worth of kids signed up, which would have required hiring someone in that department and reducing staffing in a different department that didn’t get enough signups. Admin said no and only ran 5 sections. Kids had to pick other electives from departments that were under-selected.

I already read the contract-I've heard three different things from three different admin though, so.... that's why the question is posted here.

https://www.mceanea.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/0355.21_MCEA_2021-2022_Contract-3.pdf

Page 59

Involuntary Transfers - Page 59 of the MCEA/MCPS agreement.

The last hired teacher within that content, I believe. It wouldn't make sense otherwise.

For MCPS teachers or admin...in elementary school, I know involuntary transfers are done on a last hired, first out basis. For middle and high school, is it the same or is it content based? Or is it the same but within the content. (For example-say they need to cut a math position...would the last hired math teacher would be the first to go...OR would the last hired teacher in the building go first, regardless of content...?) Hope this makes sense. Thanks!