Silver Chips: Teachers to renegotiate contract with MCPS

Recent concessions made to save county funds raise tensions


Warren Zhang, Managing News Editor and Ombudsman

With the 2008-2010 teachers union contract to expire soon, the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), the official teachers union for MCPS teachers, is set to renegotiate their contract with the MCPS Board of Education (BOE). However, recent dealings with MCPS have left some MCEA members unsatisfied and could affect the upcoming contract negotiations between the two groups, according to MCEA Vice President Christopher Lloyd...

...Additionally, the agreement made last school year with MCPS to not launch any new initiatives until the adjustments are brought back has since been questioned, according to Grossman. The definition of new MCPS initiative is, according to Grossman somewhat obscure. He specifically mentioned the "Seven Keys" program launched recently as a possible violation of the agreement.

As a result of the cancelation of the cost of living adjustment this year, less staff development time, a hiring freeze and the creation of new initiatives, some MCEA members are frustrated with the current situation with MCPS, according to Grossman...

No, teachers you still can't have your COLAs. We bought Promethean Boards.

In last week's edition of the MCPS publication The Bulletin, teachers ask the following question:

Q: Since we are entitled to be repaid $24 million by the state, will we be able to get our cost of living adjustments on July 1? How will the money be used?
A: The additional state revenue due to Montgomery County that may become available next fiscal year will not permit funding for a general wage adjustment because of the continuing dire economic situation....

Good question. But the answer fails to tell teachers that last summer MCPS' COO Larry Bowers entered into a 4 year lease for 2,600 Promethean Boards using, in part, unappropriated funds. Another 700 Promethean Boards haven't been accounted for in Board of Education minutes or procurement documents. In total the 3,300 Promethean Boards now in MCPS classrooms cost MCPS around $20 million.

That's just about the amount of the COLA's.