It’s the final stretch of the school year, and the final stretch for the budget season. County Executive Pittman’s budget does include more than was originally projected based on federal cuts and state constraints, projecting a larger increase to the AACPS budget than ever before. However, substantial line items requested by the Board of Education were left out that you worked hard to advocate for over the fall and winter: these include funding to improve special education staffing and wages that would offset our healthcare costs, making it harder to recruit and retain in AACPS.
However, we still have time to advocate! You have an opportunity to speak up on behalf of your working conditions and your students’ learning conditions by testifying at one of the last two budget hearings before the County Council. Join us at 7 pm either on May 14 at the Council Chambers in Annapolis or May 21 at Arundel High. You can sign up to testify right before each hearing between 6 and 6:45 pm. If you don’t want to testify, join us in solidarity by wearing your blue TAAAC shirt to the budget hearing.
Here are some education funding highlights of what the County Executive included in his budget, and what is currently unfunded:
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✅3% COLA and step increase for all eligible Unit 1 employees ✅Additional ELD Educators (10/18) and 2 New Bilingual Facilitators ✅Funding to Replace Brightspace with Canvas ✅Funding for Blueprint Mandates including for Career Ladder ✅Unit III starting pay increase to $18/hr ✅Agricultural Science Program |
❌1% Mid-year COLA ❌Only 28/155 Requested Special Education Positions ❌Adding School Counselors to NBC Stipend ❌Increased social worker compensation ❌$1,000 retention Incentive for employees with 30+ years ❌Compensation for Overnight field trips to Arlington Echo ❌Increased staffing for school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and pupil personnel workers |
Joint TAAAC-AACPS Special Education Meet & Greet
Do you have questions about Special Education and how it's being implemented at your school, and across the district? Here's an opportunity for you to get those questions answered!
The TAAAC Special Education Committee and the AACPS Division of Specialized Instruction are hosting a Meet & Greet Listening Tour event. Refreshments will be available for all in attendance. This event will provide members with the opportunity to listen and participate in discussions with district leaders on the following topics:
Here are the details:
- When: Monday, May 19, 5:00-6:30pm
- Where: Severna Park Middle
- RSVP: https://secure.ngpvan.com/gLMC4wfTCUW6dPMmJ2WAqQ2
