Changes made to the Harford County Public Schools health care plan under next year’s budget would result in higher health care costs to employees and caused two bargaining units to file grievances and hundreds to protest the move at a school board meeting on Monday.
Responding to the outcry, School Board President Mark Wolkow said the budget would be reviewed and that next year, the health plan would be a negotiated item.
Teachers and support staff packed the board room, spilled into the lobby, and lined the streets outside the school administration building in Bel Air. They wore stickers saying “No Rx Increases” and held signs reading “Save our Healthcare.”
On the streets, employees chanted slogans and encouraged passing cars to honk in support. Inside the board meeting, they railed against higher out-of-pocket costs, demanded negotiations instead of unilateral decisions by the school board and decried the way in which changes to the health plan were communicated to employees.
More than 20 public comments were heard, ranging from the polite (“Thank you for listening to us” to the in-your-face (“[Employees] are now being blatantly and financially raped by the health care plan being forced on them”).
Randy Cerveny, president of the Harford County Education Association, which represents the county’s teachers, said that school system employees will go from having no deductible in the PPO plan that ends June 30, to a $4,800 maximum out-of-pocket expense, with another $4,800 maximum triggered in January 2011.
He said the new plan could cost some teachers more than 10 percent of their gross pay and asked whether other options had been considered. He added that he understood the pressures of the economic climate, but said the new health care plan was adopted without input from bargaining groups and that teachers were angry.
“HCEA has filed a grievance,” he said. “Heath care is a mandatory subject of bargaining and must be negotiated.”
Barbara Yost, president of the Harford County Educational Services Council, which represents support staff such as instructional assistants, said her organization had also filed a grievance over the lack of negotiation, adding that the new plan could cost up to 40 percent of lower-paid staff’s salary.
Echoing Yost’s concerns about the disproportionate impact on support staff, HCESC board member Dina Lombardi-Cavallaro asked, “Where the heck is Robin Hood when you need him?”
Teacher and HCEA board member Brian Rheinhardt said the health plan changes were kept hidden from employees until they received an e-mail at the end of April. He said that, with the lack of transparency and passive enrollment, employees would be hit with the new PPO costs which he speculated were intentionally designed to force employees into the cheaper HMO option.
“What we have here is an unacceptable failure to communicate,” said Pat White, a 30-year teacher. She said that “conflicting facts and figures” were proof of poor communication, which also made it difficult for employees to make informed decisions.
She said she calculated a possible 300 percent increase in health care costs, or the equivalent of 23 furlough days. Calling unilateral changes made without the collective bargaining process “not fair or ethical,” she said negotiations would answer questions and allow for an equitable agreement to be reached.
Responding to a request from The Dagger, Teri Kranefeld, HCPS manager of communications, provided the following overview of the health plan changes:
PPN:
In Network: last year – $0 deductible for individual or family plan
this year – $100 deductible for individual/ $200 deductible for family
Out of Network: last year – $200 for individual/$400 for family
this year – $300 for individual/$600 for family
HMO:
Increased deductable to $100 individual/$200 family from $0/$0 last year
I think, the $4800 number you are referring to is the out-of-pocket max. Out-of-pocket expenses are what the employee would pay for health-related services above and beyond the monthly premium. The out-of-pocket maximum is the highest or total amount the health insurance company requires an employee to pay towards the cost of their health care. Last year, the out-of-pocket maximums with the PPN plan were $1,200 for an individual and $2,400 for a family. With the plan design changes, the out-of-pocket maximum has increased to $2,400 for an individual and $4,800 for a family. Once your reach your out-of-pocket max, the insurance picks up 100% of the costs.
The deductibles run on a calendar year. Currently there is a $1200/$2400 out of pocket max for the current year that started January 1, 2010. As of July 1 that will change to $2400/$4800. Any expenses between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010 would be applied to the new max. On January 1, 2011 the new calendar year will restart the $2400/$4800 out of pocket max.
Other speakers at the board meeting suggested ways to save money. Nominated for the budget axe were fields made of specialized athletic turf, administrator positions, new furniture, attendance at conferences, professional development, vehicle fleets, private placements for special education students, and the lattes and bagels that one speaker said were served at school meetings.
Many asked for a change back to the current health care plan and predicted there would be dire consequences otherwise: medications rationed, medical treatments postponed, work missed due to illness, as well as employees working extra jobs or quitting their jobs en masse in search of better compensation.
Paul Schatz, former HCEA president and teacher-of-the-year, spoke on behalf of retirees. Schatz drew a contrast between the current leadership and the leadership of former Harford superintendent Dr. Alfonso A. Roberty, after whom the school administration building is named.
“You are defaming and defacing the name of this building and his legacy in this school system,” he told the board.
Schatz said that school system employees had traded monetary gain for other benefits and that retirees had earned their health benefits.
A bell rang and time was called on Schatz, but Schatz demanded an extension from Board President Wolkow, saying, “Mark, you’re going to have to carry me away if I can’t have five minutes.” Wolkow gave him more time.
Schatz said that Harford County had money to spare, noting that the county executive and county council added funds to help reverse a 2 percent salary cut in the “ridiculous, bone-headed budget sent on to county government”, adding “My God, what a joke.”
“I hope the leadership will wake up and realize you’re hurting personnel,” Schatz concluded, “You need to stop destroying what we’ve gained.”
Harford County Councilman Dick Slutzky later told The Dagger that school employees deserved reasonable benefits, saying “Nothing is more important than a competent and contented teacher in the classroom.”
Slutzky, who is also a former educator and the council’s liaison to the school board, said that he had not been made aware of the new health care costs for employees at the time the council passed the county’s budget.
At the board meeting, School Board President Mark Wolkow responded to nearly two hours of testimony, saying he heard that “staff feels not respected by the actions of the board of education and the superintendent.”
As if on cue, a passing car beeped loudly, prompting approval from the crowd. Wolkow continued, “That’s something were going to work on.”
Wolkow said the school board approved the design changes to the health care plan this year, but would negotiate the plan in the future. He said this year’s changes were discussed with all five bargaining units representing school employees in March, but that the communications were not rolled out by HCPS in a way that people understood or that would allow them to make timely decisions.
He said it was a tough budget year in which health care costs rose 6 percent, but said “We’ll look again at the budget”, and consider some of the ideas mentioned. Wolkow was interrupted several times by heckling and had to use his gavel to quiet the crowd after he said a health care advisory group would be revived next year to “start discussions and get more input.”
When his turn came to speak, Superintendent Robert Tomback offered no comment regarding health care. But earlier in the evening, Tomback came under fire from Amanda Jones, who spoke on behalf of her father, a teacher who couldn’t attend the meeting because he was working a second job. Jones said Tomback was looking down during public comments, rather than looking speakers in the face.
When Tomback responded by meeting her gaze, Jones added, “I suggest you look up from now on.”
im a support staff custodian this would devistate me if i got hurt or my family got sick, we are paid poverty pay scales
If I am reading this correctly, the out of pocket has just gone up but nothing out of line with what anyone else has. I don’t know if the school system employees realize how great their plan is. They have no deductible! Who else has that except government employees. My spouse works for AT&T which is much bigger than the school system and we don’t have anything close to that. We have $3,000 OUT OF POCKET deductible (in network) not including prescriptions before insurance starts pays for anything. That doesn’t include the hundreds of dollars that comes out of the paycheck every month. No raises coming our way either and many people have lost their jobs.
I agree that there is a pattern of miscommunication between the superintendent,teachers, parents and community. What I don’t understand is how they HCEA could misinterpret something so significant or did they. I am confused.
My wife is a public school employee so we dealt with this. The issue is not that it went up in a sense. The issue is how it was communicated. It wasn’t. Open enrollment started in the begining of may and it was not until 2 weeks later they let you know the plan changed. Thus forcing you to make a fast decision as open enrollment ended a week later. She said she then could not get a straight answer out of the benifits office in regards to her questions. You would see one thing in print in the book they provided late and then when you called to ask a question after waiting on hold for a long time you would get told something different then in the book leaving you not sure what you wanted to do.
There is a deductible! Many are confused on the plan, but this is huge…. times are tough across the board, however teachers are constantly being asked to do more, more, more….. and teachers are being forced out of county due to our changes.
Sorry…. it was meant to go to another comment above you
Please explain what the plan is then since in the Harford County press release, they are saying the deductible for the PPO in network is $200. Is that an incorrect statement? How much do teachers pay towards their insurance out of their paycheck? I am just saying that I don’t think they realize how great their insurance really is compared to others (except maybe other government entities). I know many people who don’t go to the doctors because they can’t afford it. Their monthly premiums are close to $1,000 and they have to pay around $3,000 before any health care even kicks in. So I guess that is about $12,000 – $15,000/year.
I know people who have gone to work for the school system JUST for the health insurance benefits. The benefits are worth so much to them they factor that into the salary they make.
You seem to be fixated on the numbers, and not seeing the true point to everyones anger. When you are making a change of any kind you need to inform your staff. Not only was that NOT the case, we were told that if we want our benfits to stay the same then we need to do nothing with them. Not only is that a false statement but it is decieving as well. Nobody should be treated with such disrespect!
Now to touch on what you have be looking at… Your wife may be worse off with her benifits at AT&T, but the plan that we currently have, is the only plan that most of us have ever known. Call us spoiled, selfish, whatever you wish, but you better belive that we are going to fight for not only what is right, but for what we HAD!
Sorry it has been a long day of teaching and grad school. Please note the changes to benefits, decieving, and believe 🙂
My spouse is a certified teacher and we have always felt that teacher benefits are one of the “perks” of the job. God knows teachers don’t get an ounce of respect from most students, and even some parents. So, any perk that can help retain teachers is appropriate.
Having said that, we both feel that some teachers have come to “expect” too much in the way of perks. My spouse is not currently teaching, so we are not on the teacher’s medical plan, but I wish we had the opportunity to enroll in the plan that was put forth, that the teachers are taking exception to. It appears to be 10 times better than the plan we currently have through my employer. And, our healthcare plan costs have increased dramatically for 2010 as well. I’m sure more increases are likely for 2011 and beyond now that the new law healthcare law has passed as well.
I can’t say I’m feeling too much sympathy for the teachers in this case.
I feel that while teachers are under-appreciated in MANY, MANY ways, they still have a nice “perk” package, in general.
Do you have children,”Pizzle?” Do you want the best for them? Do you have a teacher from your past who changed your life? Is this how you thank him or her for the influence they had? Is this how you pay respect to your spouse (who I am assuming is, like myself, a dedicated educator who worked many, many hours beyond which she was compensated for?) by devaluing her profession and years of dedication? Do you want the best and brightest young people to want to come to your county and schools rather than elect to go elsewhere where they are fairly treated and well respected? Do you want veteran teacher like myself who strive each day to go above and beyond for our students to struggle to provide for our own familes in a way that could hinder our ability to continue to serve our students in dedicated and excellent fashion? Don’t you want well educated and highly qualified teachers in our schools? As a parent myself,I certainly do.
I am one of many who feel disregarded and are frustrated with the climate change in this county. There is such disparity between what we continue to give out of love for our students and profession and what people like you think we “deserve” in return. No one enters the field of education expecting to get rich, but we do expect fair and lawful treatment, clear communication, and maybe some appreciation for what we do every day.
I write the above as an educator. As a mother, there is no monetary value I can even place on those teachers and staff who are shaping the lives of my own children and providing the best possible opportunities for them. Nothing can repay them for the lasting influence they have. I see so much greatness in the educators and staff who work hard to provide the best education for our students because they love what they do and care for our kids. These are the people who deserve your respect for going above and beyond the work day and making a difference in the lives of young people, who deserve security and just compensation. I absolutely want the best for my own children and am willing to pay for it. Above all I support and join the chorus of teachers and staff in this outcry as we struggle to continue to serve our students even when our own security and the security of our families is undermined and we are disregarded in such unsympatheitc postings such as yours.
Shame on you!
I don’t know where or what you teach, but you seem like a decent teacher. I know many of them who work really hard and do a great job, but I know just of many who do not. I have spent countless hours compensating for information my student apparently hasn’t learned in school. I find it extremely frustrating. What makes me even more frustrated is when I talk to the “administration” at the school and everyone and everything is just fine. I keep trying to find out what the “Teacher Specialist” does and what does the Principal actually do?
The teachers need to understand that there is a high level of frustration in the private sector too. Many people are working for less money, putting more time in, and don’t even have close to the benefits. I honestly don’t think most people devalue teachers but it is difficult to listen to when other people have it much worse. What private sector jobs pay so much money? I am looking for one now and I’m not seeing the $$ that teachers keep talking about. The Federal Government pays really well and has great benefits but it used to be that was a trade off too. Not anymore…
I keep waiting for the teachers to band together to fight about the administrative layer that has built up over the years. To me, that would be a much better use of time and energy a way to save money.
Kate
All the more reason for our county to remain competitive- so we can attract the best and most dedicated teachers to our schools- or else we should be prepared for more mediocrity like you are describing!
And for the record- our principal is amazing- he works extremely hard running the school, supporting the teachers in a myraid of ways, making teacher observations, supporting the various programs, meeting with the higher ups and helping our students. He works even more hours than we do under challenging circumstances to ensure our school is safe and ordlerly and a welcome place for the young people, and he is the reason our school continues to be excellent. Our teacher specialist at my school mentors new teachers and provides support for veteran teachers- both are essential posistions.
When I choose Harford County 13 years ago the salary was competitive in only the 1st year- other counties topped out at way more (Calvert, Montgomery, Frederick) and were far more attractive in terms of teacher pay- Harford County was and is a nice place to live- but my family can not even afford to buy a home there- we opted to move to PA where it is more affordable to live. One thing that heped us decide to come here despite far less money was the health benefits. My fear is that once this story becomes known in wider circles fewer and fewer excellent teachers will be inclined to choose Harford County and the excellent ones who are qualified to find work elsewhere will do so, and we will be stuck with a great many more like the ones you describe.
I am glad you have such a positive experience in your school and I have teacher friends who also think very highly of their principal. That being said, what do you do when that isn’t the case? The principal hires and oversees the personnel in the building. There are administrators (including the Superintendent) who you supposedly can complain to, but nothing seems to happen or change. Dr. Tomback seems completely uninterested in doing anything at the school level or interacting with parents.
I do agree that the word is going to get out about our lack of leadership and our school system is going to suffer. As people start looking at Haford County as a place to live, education is one of their top priorities.
Are you looking forward to the elected school board? What kind of candidate would get your vote?
Are you running for the school board or do you know someone who is? One thing I want is someone who isn’t afraid to speak up for themselves and the people they represent (parents and students). I would say teachers but they have a union and apparently the administration doesn’t appreciate teachers talking to the Board. I wish they would talk to them more though because maybe they would listen more to firsthand accounts. I honestly don’t know who they listen to.
I also worry because it seems like when people get on the Board the “group think” mentality sets in. They see divergence of opinions and votes as the Board being weak and/or divided. I couldn’t disagree more. There should be much more discussion about issues and Board members shouldn’t be frozen out by a Board President who has his own agenda. That too me is another problem with the way the Board restructured themselves a few years ago…
Kate
I agree with you completely. If you want to make a difference and affect change on the board contact me directly – cbtd@comcast.net
Kate should the board also be accountable to teachers who live in this county? After all they are residents and pay taxes just like everyone else. Or do they lose their civil liberties because they are “just the hired help”?
Cdev
The board should absolutely be accountable, especially to teachers since they are the ones that have to implement policy at the ground level. The HCEA needs to be more aggressive with the board in demanding at place at the table in formulating policies directly related to the classroom. I extend the same invitation to you, if you want to be a part of affecting change on the board contact me directly – cbtd@comcast.net
CDEV:
I agree with you but it is up to the teachers to use their power. He says how much he supports teachers but his actions don’t necessarily match. I am stating the philosophy of HCPS about teachers talking to the Board from the mouth of the Superintendent. I have heard him say it more than once. You are getting huffy with the wrong person.
Kate I am reading particularly this part of which you said
“I would say teachers but they have a union…..”
you imply that because they have a union, which is not true, they are not a legitimate stake holder even though many of them live here and have kids in the system.
NGreen, please don’t get all “bleeding-heart” on me. If you bothered to read my posts you’d see that I stated very strongly that I have nothing but the utmost respect for teachers and the thankless job they perform. I also stated my objections to teachers that feel they’re “owed”. If you feel that because of my statements, I somehow don’t want the best for my children, you’re DEAD WRONG.
If something was done during the “negotiations” that was illegal, then those responsible should be held to account.
When I go to work each day, I don’t have a lobbying group “backing me up”. All I’ve got is my ability to perform at my very best each day in order to provide for me and my family. You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about what I need to do in order to ensure my kids (yes, this heartless bastard has children) are being raised to respect others and act with integrity. Spare me your grossly misguided analysis of what you think was meant by my comments.
We’re all hurting in this economy. Those of us that are fortunate enough to even have benefits at work aren’t happy with the increased costs and decreased benefits, but in the end, we’re VERY FORTUNATE to even have coverage.
Again, if something was done illegally in the dealings with HCPS then heads should roll.
With all due respect, Pizzle- rhetorically speaking, when one begins a post with something to the effect of…”while I generally support teachers and appreciate them, etc.” and then follows with “having said that…” what follows is generally not a show of support! It does seem that we do agree on many aspects, however; you are absolutely right – I don’t know you- and if, perhaps, I mistook your comments as a lack of support for educators -which is how they very blatantly seemed to me- and reacted strongly- and if you do sincerely support teachers and education, then I apologize.
If you do indeed respect the profession and teachers and want the best for your children, then you should also consider that I am not the only teacher whose heart IS bleeding from a lack of respect and regard. And if I were a brand new teacher again, looking for a job, I would no longer choose this county as an option but choose from one of any of the other four in Md. where I held offers. I love my school and the people for whom and with whom I work. I love my students, and so I stay and continue to give whatever I have- but it is growing harder. I personally know five excellent teachers who will not be working for HCPS next year- and it is truly our loss!
Like you- I, too, work extremely hard every day and go way above and beyond what I am paid to do to do the best for my students and family- and any of them would tell you so–and I am only asking for fair treatment and just compensation for the job I do and for the security to continue doing it. You say I don’t know you- but you don’t know me either- how are you entitled to speak of what I am “owed” or “deserve” or “expect”? That is equally presumptious!
It is also very true–everybody is struggling-and believe me, we teachers are struggling as much as anyone–we lost our step, we did not get a cost of living raise- our pay was not that much to begin with compared to many other counties and states and jobs. And now a cut to our health care- one of the few standing aspects we could be grateful for- brought about in a deceptive and terribly unclear manner. I do count my blessings every single day, believe me, but I am a highly educated, professional working woman- and where is the professional regard?
Also again- you are correct-there are folks who are way worse off than I am- our support staff, for example, are hit hardest of all by this! Believe me- you are right–my heart is bleeding as are many collective hearts in education around this county!!
NGreen
If you are interested in having an impact on who will be on the BOE next year you are invited to an informal meeting at Giovanni’s Restaurant on Rt. 40 tomorrow night (Wed.) at 7:30 to discuss my candidacy for the board. I am a Balt. Co. teacher and like you think the board is unresponsive to anything teachers have to say. If you plan to attend please confirm so I know how many to expect.
Thanks,
Bob
NGreen,
My comments regarding teachers feeling they’re “owed” come from this comment posted in another reply:
“Teachers are unique in the fact that they ALL HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES! AND MOST OF THEM HAVE MASTERS DEGREES! THEY SHOULD HAVE THE BEST DAMN HEALTH PLAN AROUND. PERIOD.”
Um, that seems like a pretty blatant statement regarding being “owed” or “entitled” (in my opinion).
Of course not all teachers share the same opinion of the person that posted the comment above. That’s why I made a point to go out of my way to voice my support (multiple times) of teachers and the thankless job they perform, while adding my discontent over remarks from teachers that echo the quote above.
Do not compare a teachers health insurance benefits to other private sector companies. Teachers are unique in the fact that they ALL HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES! AND MOST OF THEM HAVE MASTERS DEGREES! THEY SHOULD HAVE THE BEST DAMN HEALTH PLAN AROUND. PERIOD.
You pay for quality. If you want a highly certified teacher instructing your child then you have to pay for that service. It doesn’t come cheap. Most people with a masters degree would make a ton more money in the private sector. But they sacrafice the money for the love of the profession and the BENEFITS.
I’m sick and tired of people say how good teachers have it. What ever it is you think teachers “have”…let me tell you something….we’ve earned it!!!! 7 years of college some get you some kind of benefits in this world dammit!
Sounds like you’re saying you’re entitled to benefits because of the extra education and time you’ve put in?!? Newsflash….most white-collar workers put in their share of extra time, and we do it for our own professional development and to help secure our place in the workforce. We don’t have the luxury of having tenure and “bargaining units” to help keep us employed. I’m going to school right now for an advanced degree, and I don’t expect any sort of entitlement as “payback” for doing so. I’m doing it to remain competitive among my peers.
You are free to go work for whoever you want to work for in the country (for now). If you think your degree entitles you to “more”, then go find it. It’s out there.
I do agree with you that you get what you pay for, and that being a teacher is probably one of the most thankless jobs there is. I have a TON of respect for teachers that are doing their job with integrity. I have no respect for teachers that are simply there because they’ve “got tenure” and can’t be removed. In the business world, you perform or get fired. We could use a little of that in teaching as well.
Maybe it is about time that teachers start rallying against having a master’s degree. What is the point anyway? Many of them get counseling or administrative jobs which has little to do with what they do in the classroom. It seems like the Maryland State Department of Education in conjunction with the institutes of higher education have a racket going. They complain they don’t have enough math and science teachers but make it nearly impossible for someone who may have been a scientist to become a teacher (here we go again – they have to pay a college to get certified and do an internship).
The educational system has become an empire and the teachers and students are the pawns.
Hate to say it but the math and science teachers had to do that for undergrad. Student teaching and those courses where valuable to the job.
I agree JAO!!!!! My master’s degree which I was forced to get to keep my job taught me absolutely nothing that I don’t learn from being in the classroom everyday. It was a complete waste of my time.
Now this I would have to agree with. With all the prof. development days that are built into the school year it does seem like a waste to PAY teachers to get their master’s. If you want it, go get it to get a better paying educational job. If you don’t want it I don’t think that you should have to PAY to get it!
This is what irks me – I have my masters, I got a job with the county when the pay freezing occured, so I am stuck at 43000 year for gosh knows how long ( and this is my salary – take out taxes, fees, etc, its way less) – I got my masters before I got a job, so the county never paid – so I have over 20 grand in school loans. ANYWAY – it pisses me off that I have my Masters, yet there are people who have been out of college for a year, with an undergrad degree making more than double of what I will make – and there are no salary freezes in thier line of work. I have tried looking for other jobs, but what can you really do with a Masters and Undergrad Degree in Early Childhood besides teach. I am more than open to hear what else I could do – if there is something else I would be willing to apply. But I absolutly LOVE what I do, and I really dont want to do anything else. My biggest worry is the Instructional Support Staff. They get paid a whopping 9 bucks an hour, so that 40 percent pay cut it going to really impact them. Give us the 2 percent pay cut if we get to keep our current plan. Or just give me a car like the people at the board get..haha.
Are you looking forward to having an elected school board? What kind of candidate would get your vote?
Due to the economy, both my wife and I, became unemployed. At this point we have an income that is 33% of what it was. Our house payment was not cut, Real Estate taxes were not cut, and our health insurance costs are going up. There are folks across the county facing the same situation. Be thankful that you have a position. In the real world there are no guarantees. By the way, I have earned a Masters degree, so I should have the BEST DAMN HEALTH PLAN AROUND? Don’t work that way.
Thanks to Obama, you soon will!
By soon you mean 2014? We’ll be broke by then!
Amen!
Do not compare a teachers health insurance benefits to other private sector companies. Teachers are unique in the fact that they ALL HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES! AND MOST OF THEM HAVE MASTERS DEGREES! THEY SHOULD HAVE THE BEST DAMN HEALTH PLAN AROUND. PERIOD.
You pay for quality. If you want a highly certified teacher instructing your child then you have to pay for that service. It doesn’t come cheap. Most people with a masters degree would make a ton more money in the private sector. But they sacrafice the money for the love of the profession and the BENEFITS.
I’m sick and tired of people say how good teachers have it. What ever it is you think teachers “have”…let me tell you something….we’ve earned it!!!! 7 years of college some get you some kind of benefits in this world dammit!
What an incredibly arrogant statement! Am I understanding you to say that you deserve better health care just because you have a college degree? What makes you so special. I happen to have a college degree and work for a fortune 100 company. I don’t feel I deserve any better coverage than my co-workers who don’t have a college education. I have met many educated teachers who wouldn’t survive in the corporate world because they don’t have a lick of common sense. I attended an event recently in which one of these educated teachers spoke, they couldn’t string two coherent sentences together.
I have nothing but respect for the teaching community and the work they do. However, I suggest you come off your high horse…welcome to the real world!
Yeh, well, I have met a plenty of private sector people in “the real world” who could never hack it as a teacher….
again, you get what you pay for. You want quality instruction, you have to ante up. Would you want to trade Harford county teachers for Baltimore city teachers? Seriously? If you want the best for your kids you need to pay for it. And by the way, I am a teacher, I live in the “real world” I also have a real estate license and I work my farm that has been in my family for over 100 years.
But one more thing to think about: I have been teaching for 13 years and I have 2 master degrees. I make 63k a year. The average private sector salary with that kind of credential would be around 77K. (Parade Magazine Oct. 2009)
So, I make 14k less than the private sector. I teach because I enjoy it. Not for the money. But if Harford County Board of Ed. keeps treating us like factory workers then I’m afraid you’re going to see a lot of turn over.
Man…I really think people are ignorant when they sterotype teachers as “people who can’t make it in the real world”.
So, who paid for your master’s degrees? Was it out of your own pocket, or was it paid for by taxpayers? I’m not trying to poke the bear on this. I’m just wondering who foot the bill for the higher education you received? I know that when my spouse was teaching, she was required to take continuing education classes towards her master’s, but it was paid for by the school district in which she taught, and therefore by the taxpayers.
Not sure if it’s the same in Harford County or not, since her experience applied to PA.
In any event, advanced degrees don’t entitle you to “the best damn health plan around”. With a statement like that, maybe a little turn-over in the school system wouldn’t be a bad thing after all. Again, I have the utmost respect for teachers and the thankless job they perform. You are not portraying yourself as someone for whom I’d have the utmost respect.
The county paid for 80% of my masters degree. There’s a difference though…they MADE me get it. I had 10 years to get it or I would lose my job. The second Masters degree I earned I paid for myself. Can’t honestly say that a masters degree made me a better teacher…but it’s the loops we have to jump through. I was a 2003 Harford County Public School Teacher of the Year finalist. I have more than put my share into the classroom. I have committed my life to helping kids do well in this world.
This money that Tomback saved on cutting our benefits does NOT save the taxpayers a dime. The money was already given to Tomback from the county to do as he pleases. Now, it would be a different story if David Craig cut benefits to save the county money (althought that’s not right either)because that would be a tax savings. But the Board of Ed gets money from the county and can do with it what they please. The money Tomback saved just goes to some other non essential bull crap in the system. Not back into the tax payers pockets.
Remember: The most important teaching tool in a school will always be THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. Not computers, not smart boards, not new furniture, not flat screen TV’s. This country put a man on the moon 40 years ago and taht was made possible by scientist who were once taught in one room school houses using slide rules.
And yes…I agree with you on one thing….teachers that are slckers need to go! Every school has teachers that are not pulling their weight. Principals need to do their job and get rid of them!
As much as I’d like to say that a Principal has the authority to fire non-performing teachers, I’m inclined to believe the teacher’s union would likely “go to bat” for the teacher in order to keep them around. I might be mistaken on that, but that’s my gut feel on it. You can correct me if you feel my impression is distorted.
Also, most people in a position of authority seem to go out of their way not to “rock the boat” in order to keep the (appearance of) peace among the troops, per se. It’s sad, since the student is most harmed by having non-performing teachers in the classroom.
In any event, teachers need to keep in mind that everyone is suffering during these trying times, and that when compared to other sectors, they’re doing pretty good (maybe even really good) with respect to their healthcare benefits, in my opinion.
What an incredibly arrogant statement: “Would you want to trade Harford county teachers for Baltimore city teachers?” How dare you? What do you know about Baltimore and the many teachers who labor in those fields? Are you saying that Baltimore students somehow make the teachers less qualified or dedicated that those in Harford (especially you who live on a farm that can’t support your family)? What makes you such an expert on Baltimore, its citizens, or teachers?
Wow – sounds like someone hit a nerve with you US Taxpayer. Is that what you are – an overpaid under worked administrator for Baltimore City?
Thats right – now I remember – you are just a mean-spirited-left-wing-Idealogue that carries a race-chip on his shoulder. Is US Taxpayer really Al Sharpton. Whoever you are – stop looking for entitlements and start actually working for a living.
Braveheart: Ha, ha, ha. You are BORING me.
Educated Teacher, I was wondering, if you don’t believe the 1st masters degree improved your teaching, why did you get a second? It seems that if the masters degree truly did not improve your teaching skills, then the value of of the education was wasted by you and the school system because you were paying for new knowledge or the ability to use what you already knew better. I’m not writing as an attack, but it concerns me because while I agree that the teacher and their ability to motivate are the most important tools in the classroom, the second most important component is the student, and the value they place on education. With all the teachers saying the masters degree is not worth anything what is that teaching the students?
“7 years of college some get you some kind of benefits in this world dammit!”
Yeah – a sense of entitlement.
The real issues here are the school board lacking the courage to hold meaningful negotiations with bargining units as they have in other years and the real suffering the plans will cause those who are poorly paid and will lack the out of pocket income to access thier health needs. A knowledge that next year binding arbitration will be in effect hastened a last desperate attempt to shift A 7.5 millon dollar expense to the work force. Like the segregationist years of Superintendent Charles Willis Dr. Tomback defies the law with illegal actions which will bring shame to the county. Tom Berg
The point that many are missing is the way this situation has been managed by the BOE and Dr Tomback. The health care package is part of a binding contract between HCPS and it’s employees. The terms fall under the items that are negotiated. Dr Tomback has decided that he will avoid negotiating and make a blanket decision, which is in violation of MD law. They have also been deceptive about the changes and less than forthcoming about helping teachers about the changes. This has only been one example of multiple things that Dr Tombeck has done in this manner. Instead of making an attempt to work with the teachers and other bargaining units as is supposed to be required, he has taken a dictatorial and advisarial position. What we were asking for, for those who were there and listening, was to openly and fairly negotiate this issue as required by law. The BOE and the Dr tomback have decided they do not want to and as usual do not want to hear any dissent as was clearly shown by cutting the allowed time from speakers, except those who came to praise them-oddly this fact has been left out of reporting. Dr. Wheeler stated that he was hurt by th idea that we felt disrespected. Well how should we feel given the facts of how this new superintendant has acted? How should we feel when we go to these meetings and the senior staff and the board are to busy with their computers and cell phones to give thier attention to those speaking to them?
We understand that times are tight. We are living through these times as well. If you want the schools to follow private sector models, fine, pay me the market value that my education and experience qualifies for. Or, pay me by the hour. Forrest those of you who are dying to write well go into the real world and see how it works. Well, be careful what you wish for. More than half of teachers in HCPS have less that 10 years in Hardord County and they are starting to look around and go-why am I dealing with this and looking to go elsewhere. Such as counties next to ours that have found a way in these tough times to maintain health plans and provide step increases, which are part of the HCPS CONTRACT but suspended. HCPS has used the idea that ” yes we pay less, but Harford county has a great lifestyle, low cost of liviing, and great bennies!” Well, 1 out of 3 ain’t bad I guess.
All we are asking is that HCPS live up to the contract they THEY wrote and work with us.
By the way, invade you didn’t notice the plan resets in 6 months so that works out to $9600 in 18 months. That’s close to if not more 20% of the average teachers salary.
Also, could you list the many ‘perks’ please.
-Summer vacation
-Christmas week vacation (or, “Winter Break” to be politically correct)
-Spring break (usually)
-Excellent pension
-Excellent medical benefits (even under the newly negotiated terms)
-Continuing education tuition paid for
Summer Vacation-Unpaid, I have two part time jobs during that time as weel as one during the school year
Winter Break-Unpaid
Pension-Really??? Might want to look at the program and watch what happens when they dump it on the counties.
Medical-Good until something happens under the new plan
Tuition: 80% for the Masters depending on grades(which comes out of pocket first, limited amount of reimbursment during the year, takes forever to get paid back) and which does not cover any of the other expenses and after that, which is still manditory by the state, it is on the individual to get 30 cresits, another Masters, or a PhD.
Unpaid? When my wife was teaching, she had the option to be paid out over the course of the entire year, or to be paid out over the school year only. We tried both ways and decided to get paid out over the school year only, and then BANK the rest of the money to get through the summer.
So, you’re griping over your pension? At least you HAVE ONE!
Medical is still BETTER THAN 90% of the plans available to most other folks. Don’t want to hear it.
So sorry you need to pay for YOUR TUITION out of your own pocket before GETTING IT BACK from our taxpayer money.
Maybe I should just write you a check directly?
Wow, your sense of entitlement is unreal.
Teachers are REQUIRED to earn a masters degree before the end of their 10th year. Having to pay out of pocket for classes first puts a financial strain on younger teachers who are not paid much to begin with. The reimbursement process takes some time, so usually you are paying for two semesters’ worth of classes before seeing money (i.e. you pay Fall, submit reimbursement, pay Spring because it’s due, and get Fall reimbursement back sometime in the Spring).
Teachers are UNPAID over the summer. The last paycheck is in June. Some banks give the option of putting a portion of each check away to have enough money for the summer, and some teachers do this on their own. However, there is no paycheck in July and August, hence the term unpaid. Teachers are only paid when they work, so Winter and Spring break fall into the category of unpaid as well.
I suggest you walk a mile in someone’s shoes before calling them entitled. I don’t think you’d last half a mile in a teacher’s shoes.
What is the sense of entitlement? All we want is the right given to us to us by the law to negotiate what effects us openly and fairly. That is the only thing that is going to allow HCPS to keep and get teachers that are high quality. But I guess that doen not really matter to you, nor does actually listening to what we want.
I’m aware of the hardships involved with being a teacher. I’m married to one. Read some of my prior posts regarding my respect for those that teach. What I take exception to is complaining about how bad you’ve got it, when in fact, there are many others that have it much, much worse. I’m sorry, but getting back to the point of the article posted, teachers have a very nice compensation package overall. If you don’t like it, then find another job. My money is on you staying put right where you are.
You still don’t want to understand what I am saying or I have been writing. IT’S THE PROCESS OF HOW THE CHANGES ARE BEING MADE!
Those terms where not negotiated. That is part of the problem!
While you’re at it, why not look at the contracts and rasises for administrators over these tough times. But somehow they never ge published.
Any increase in administrator salaries is tied to those the teacher’s receive. The recieve 0% – so do the administrators.
I copied this from an alert from a person who follows the Anne Arundel County school system very closely. I feel it best exemplies what both teachers and parents think about the way they are treated by HCPS – both the Board and Superintendent. They keep saying they are making communication errors but they keep doing it…
“It is that real public participation—the way that democratic theorists define it—is often actually considered, at best, an annoyance. Real public participation must come from the bottom up; that is, people must feel that they can make a real difference and that they aren’t being used just for show. But the incentives, all too often, are to use public participation and the appearance of openness for show. After all, we live in a democracy, and school boards and other public bodies get their public legitimacy from appearing democratic. Indeed, the calling of a public meeting with warm bodies in the audience has proven to be one of the most effective democratic shows.”
People were told by the Board at the meeting Monday that they care about what they think. I still don’t understand why that doesn’t translate into action(s). Teachers can get up and talk and the Board can say how glad they are to see them there but I can’t help but feel yet again this falls into a “show” category.
Teachers need to stop working school events for free! Wake up parents if you want these events then you need to volunteer your FREE time.
Yes, if teachers wish to reinforce the view that they are simply hourly workers who just perform a task and then go home, they definitely should.
In the outside world – the one with no pensions, high health care co-pays, a twelve month work year, no tenure, no COLAs and frequent layoffs – professionals put in the time necessary to get the job done.
Here is the problem with just leaving at the end of our “scheduled hours” is that many teachers, myself included can’t do that. We can’t do that because to be an effective teacher you have to put in time to plan/grade/and be involved in the school. I put in more than the average teacher does, not because I am forced, but because it is necessary for me, especially when you teach multiple grades and multiple preps.
So, at my school, it is easy to pull the “work hour to hour” and no more, but who gets impacted negatively are the students.
I Agree!!!!!
Three simple words…
WORH TO CONTRACT!!!!!!!!!!!
Ooops…
WORK TO CONTRACT
Arguments about teacher evaluation, educational costs, entitlement and comparisons beg the primary questions here.
At issue is a 300% increase in health care costs- the equivalent of a 12% paycut in one contract year. I think anyone, in any job with any amount of qualifications would be upset with that. That is a major blow to a family budget and a staggering blow to lower paid staff and retirees. Apply it to retirees whose pension is -at best- about 30% of their pre-retirement income and it could negatively impact that fixed income by up to 48%. The fact that the employees, who were not adequately informed about changes that should, by law, have been negotiated, are upset seems reasonable and understandable to me. Especially when they were informed that during a “passive” enrollment period their currently selected benefits would be maintained. A lie of ommission.
There are many dedicated teachers in HCPS who regularly work 70hour weeks during the school year. Spread that out over the summer months and you get 40 hour weeks year round with a two week vacation.Anyone who has spent time in a classroom knows it is an incredibly demanding, high stress vocation. And what could be more valuable than quality educators for our children? Lip service appreciation is dishonest and disrespectful.This unilateral action by the school system and the BOE members speaks volumes of unfortunate truth.
Just because there are some teachers who are not competant does not mean that the dedicated majority should be treated unfairly.
Negotiation would allow for real problem solving.There may be many possible alternatives that would be fair and acceptable to both sides but there is no venue for proposals, discussion or compromise when negotiation is denied.
teachers need to get a different job, as far as I know this is not a drafted position and you can leave it when you wish.
Great solution. Who would then teach the next generation? You? I doubt it. Not because of your skill set, but because people truly have no concept of what the profession is like and how difficult it really is. Those who complain the loudest about teachers are usually those who feel that they know all about the profession because they went through a school system for their education. It is the equivalent of feeling that you know about a doctor’s profession because you have been to an ER.
Why don’t they leave? Right now, it is a secure profession. It is insulated, to a point, from the current economic woes. Of course, they are feeling it in their pay, pensions, and benefits…but they are still in a good position considering what the rest of the country is experiencing. Secondly, many (unfortunately, not all) are in it because it is what they want to do. It is their chosen field. If you have a job in your chosen field, you don’t want to leave.
Trust me, those who can leave have. Why is there a science and math shortage within the field of education? Because those with a Masters degree in science or math can make more in the private sector. They get into the system, get help with their education costs, then leave. NOT ALL…but some. Those who stay want to stay.
So your quip about leaving is ridiculous. After all, who is 100% happy with their employment?
Teacher should be happy that’s all the deductible and co-insurance was increased to. If they had to purchase health insurance on there own they would be faced with Medical underwriting, deductibles from 500 to 10,000 dollars and co-insurance of 80/20 or 50/50 and there is always the chance you could be denied coverage for pre-exicting condition so be happy you have coverage
I see both sides – better communication was in order and there is a legal obligation to negotiate. But when did HCPS ever live up to its obligations, to its teachers or its students. All this nonsense is why we homeschool. Too much politics and not enough teaching.
As for the teachers benefits and salaries, folks are hurting everywhere. It would be terrible if they had to start cutting teaching positions in order to make budget – the additional strain on the remaining teachers to fill that gap while still providing any sort of quality education would be unbelievable.
It’s time for us all to pull together and do a little to benefit the whole. At my company (private sector) we all volunteered to take a salary freeze indefinitely and an increase in health care costs in order to help our fellow employees stay employed. There comes a point when we all have to realize just how bad the economy really is and set aside ourselves to help others.
Are you looking forward to the new elected school board? What kind of candidate would get your vote?
At this point nothing would prompt me to place confidence in the Harford County school system, so the candidate could say whatever they like, its a moot point. I moved to Harford Co. from AA Co. 12 years ago and my children were nearly a year ahead of their peers when I enrolled them. After a couple years and numerous issues we chose homeschooling.
The problem is the social agenda is given more importance than the fundamental educational needs. Who cares if Jenny has two mommies if the child can’t read the darned book. Then there is stretch spelling. This was a horrible idea, not because of anything except it was impossible for teachers to force the kids to relearn words that they had previously stretch spelled to their proper spelling and then keep up with marking wrong all the instances of that word misspelled later. There was just too much paperwork, too many papers for too many kids for that. To this day my kids who learned that stuff can’t spell anything properly.
Class room sizes are too large, and teachers are spread too thin. It’s not the teachers fault that the school in my area was over capacity and there were 35 kids in each classroom. It’s not possible for one person to control 35 children and adequately educate. What is totally rediculous is that the Dept. of Social Services will not allow one daycare mom to have that many children and all she would be doing is basic babysitting. Expecting a teacher to control that many all on her own and impart anything to them is completely unfair.
My now 16 year old was promoted all the way to third grade and he couldn’t read ‘Hop on Pop’. It took us two years to get him where he belonged and a significant monitary investment.
The reform needed is too large for one newly elected school board to manage, and the social education agenda is too deeply entrenched. It’s going to require a serious monitary investment, a complete curriculum overhaul, smaller class sizes, paid teachers aids, and complete buy in from each principle at each school before anything improves. My kids will be grandparents before that happens.
I wonder what will happen when the county realizes that the fine for NOT insuring employees, under the government’s health care overhaul, is much cheaper than the amount that they have to pay for each employee’s insurance.
david-due to the Obama plan, the county and school board would either have to pay the “cadillac” health care tax or they could just switch to the govt plan in a few years since it would make economic sense and less govt dollars would be needed to provide health care.
ARe you people serious??? Welcome to the real world. Working people pay higher deductibles- most of the time 80/20, 70/30 in the workplace. These are WONDERFUL rates that you are paying. Most companies have to tell their employees worse news, so stop complaining and be happy that you still have jobs………..
Read Tom Berg’s post above. He hits the nail right on the head. The BOE and Tomback refuse to negotiate in good faith. Instead of accusing educators of being whiners, posters should be complaining how the titans of finance and industry earn millions of dollars while all hard workers, educators and other professions get screwed.
By the way, teacher retirees like myself have nice pensions but they are far from generous. Mine is running about 25k a year. In addition to having worked every summer while I was a teacher, I continue to work as a retiree. I am not complaining, BUT, if you count my premiums and new out of pocket costs, my medical costs are about one third of the gross pension payout.
Shame on the United States for not having a single payer system that covers all citizens equally.
Oh, and shame on tomback and Wolkow and their band of merry men.