TAAAC is asking every available member to attend the January 9th Public Hearing on the Superintendent’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2015 Budget. We ask those who have our blue TAAAC shirts or jackets to wear them. We ask that members who do yet have the TAAAC regalia to wear something blue. For reasons explained below, this is an important hearing. Please come and join us whether or not you plan to give testimony.
During the week immediately prior to the holiday break, Superintendent Perkins presented her proposed budget to the members of the Board. The budget represented an overall $35.5M increase over the current year. It contained funding for all bargaining units who have ratified negotiated agreements in place for FY15. But there was one conspicuous disappointment.
Over the course of the past few months, the negotiating teams have spent entire days searching ways to provide additional teacher-directed work time, especially in the elementary schools where the need has become critical. Planning time was an acknowledged priority of both parties. It was clear during the discussions that additional staffing is necessary to resolve the matter in any effective way; and just as clear that the employer believed such staffing to be unaffordable. The matter is not yet settled and there is a very real potential for an impasse. There was some hope that additional staffing specifically for the purpose of providing time for teachers to get their work done might have made it to the budget proposal. Sadly, it did not. Yes, there are 75 new positions that made the request; 32 to address the increase in student enrollment and about 43 for program enhancements costing $5.1M.
TAAAC is providing testimony at the Public Hearing scheduled for Thursday, January 9, 7:00PM at the Parham Building on Riva Road. TAAAC President, Richard Benfer, will be presenting it. This hearing is not an opportunity just for members of the general public. It is also an opportunity for teachers struggling to balance an increasingly unmanageable workload and a declining standard of living to stand up and take a couple minutes to tell their stories and ask the appointed members of the Board for some relief. The budget as proposed provides none.
TAAAC WILL BE MONITORING BUT NOT PRESENTING AT THE JANUARY 7TH HEARING AT OLD MILL HIGH SCHOOL.
JANUARY 11TH LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST, THERE IS STILL SOME ROOM.
TAAAC’s Legislative Breakfast is being held at Union Jacks at 2072 Somerville Road in Annapolis, from 8:00AM to 10:00AM. We have slightly more than 100 attending, including more than 20 elected and appointed public policy and law makers. It’s not too late to sign up. A buffet breakfast and beverages will be provided. The event is free to members. REGISTER HERE. Maryland House Speaker, Mike Busch, will be address in the group.
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDERS WORKLOAD ACTION (CONT’D FROM 12/5/13)
As readers will recall from the December 5th update, TAAAC is collecting spreadsheets or other forms of documentation from teachers substantiating the number of hours each has been required to work beyond the paid 37 ½ hour work week on tasks other than planning lessons. Those wish to add their documentation to the batch may still do so. Please email to [email protected] or fax to 410-841-5117.
