Randy Cerveny has been elected to a second, three-year term as president of the Harford County Education Association, earning 75 percent of the vote over challenger Ryan Burbey.
Election results were released to HCEA members via e-mail on April 8.
HCEA is the largest bargaining union in Harford County Public Schools, representing all teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, media specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech and hearing clinicians–about 3,200 employees in all, approximately 2,070 of which are also HCEA members. Only members are eligible to vote in HCEA elections. Less than 1,000 votes were cast in the April election for president.
Cerveny’s win comes as HCEA faces renegotiation of a tentative labor agreement for next year with salary increases that include a 3 percent cost of living increase. The HCEA agreement automatically triggered the same 3 percent COLA for all other school employee contracts, per piggyback clauses contained in their respective negotiated agreements. All negotiated increases are subject to funding availability.
The salary increases for all school employees carry a total price tag of $15.3 million, an amount not funded in the proposed fiscal year 2012 county budget or in next year’s state allocation for Harford County Public Schools. The school board removed the $15.3 million from their recommended operating budget on April 11, expecting to renegotiate the wage package following the funding shortfall. (Please see related story).
Unless the tentative labor agreement is funded by the Harford County Council, which can only add to the school system’s allocation by taking an equal amount from elsewhere in the county budget, HCEA and the Harford County Board of Education will be back at the bargaining table after the council finalizes the county budget in late May.
Below are the election results for HCEA president and other HCEA offices:
President
Randy Cerveny 703
Ryan Burbey 231Board of Directors
High School member at large (two positions)
Bob Krabill 136
Chris Scholz 97
Will Smith 81The following positions were won by acclamation.
Vice President
Greg PlotyciaBoard of Directors:
Middle School Member at Large
Mark Gross
Jamie StuartElementary School Member at Large
Amarilyz Pimentel
Ollie DanageNEA Convention Delegate
Randy Cerveny
Ollie Danage
Chris ScholzMSEA Convention Delegate
Randy Cerveny
Ollie Danage
Chris Scholz
Colleen Dunphy
It would appear that the HCEA membership chose a steady hand over the unbalanced approach Burbey represented. The HCEA needs to build positive relationships with current and new members of the school board and other elected county officials. Thr best chance of that is with Cerveny. A Burbey election would have damaged HCEA. Smart decision by their membership.