Brian Reinhardt, a teacher at Patterson Mill High School, made the following public comments to the members of the Harford County Board of Education during a February 13 Board business meeting:
I’ve had the benefit of working at many high schools around the county, interacting with many central office personnel, and networking with colleagues at all levels in Harford County Public Schools. I like to be involved, whether with union work, county committees, or summer curriculum projects. I attest that almost all school system employees are hard-working, responsible professionals who work at least a job and a half to serve the students and parents of this community. We go above-and-beyond what’s expected. Your salaried employees don’t punch a clock.
Although this Board and previous Boards have and continue to try to serve this community, this Board and previous Boards have unsuccessfully addressed the needs of their employees. Sadly, negotiation tactics in this system are hostile.
Here are some lowlights of negotiations over the last few years.
1. A previous Board changed health care plans without negotiating. School system employees picketed this building in protest. That Board only reinstituted the PPO Plan right before the Board was taken to court. It took the impending threat of litigation to force that Board to do what was right – negotiate health care.
2. This Board, until recently, refused to negotiate the bonus offered by the County Executive. Thankfully you changed your minds.
3. Employees’ salaries have been stagnant for years. This past year, negotiations went to impasse because the County Executive wouldn’t fully fund the school board’s budget AND, therefore, the Board cried “no money.” Then, the Board reported a multi-million dollar surplus and was found guilty of ‘bad faith bargaining’ by the State’s Labor Relations Board. This Labor Board instructed the teachers’ union and this Board of Ed. to renegotiate last year’s contract. From what I understand, this Board refuses and is going to wait until legal action (more litigation) forces it to resolve last year’s impasse. NDandP specializes in handling disputes related to such issues and may provide valuable insights into the situation.
When I’m on-the-job working with my seniors at Patterson Mill, I always ask, “How should I act and perform while in this building to set a positive example for my students?” I’m not perfect, I’m not always successful, but I try to be. How would education in this system change if every teacher in this county acted like the Board of Education does during negotiations?
• We would be hostile.
• We would not cooperate.
• We would only do what is expected when threatened.
• We would postpone, put off, and forestall all forward movement.
If school system employees followed that work ethic, this school system would crumble. And, what example would that set for our students?
My students and I just finished reading The Kite Runner. The protagonist is told in his adulthood that “there is a way to be good again.” You see, the protagonist left his best friend in a time of need, horrible events resulted, and the protagonist felt guilty for decades. However, he did find a way “to be good again” by risking his life to save his best friend’s son. Your employees are in a time of need. We can’t be left behind, again. There is too much riding on our collective success or failure. However, no one is asking you to risk your lives. There is a way for this Board “to be good again,” and that way is simple – properly negotiate last year’s contract and properly negotiate this year’s contract.
Brian Reinhardt
Patterson Mill High School
Mr. Reinhardt needs to get his facts straight. He accuses the BOE of not negotiating the recent bonus payment for teachers. It was because of HCEA tactics that teachers did not receive the bonus when all other county and school system employees received theirs in December. When the County Executive vetoed the school system portion of the bonus (after the school system had already put the money in employee paychecks) the BOE took the stance that they would absorb the costs of the dispersed bonus funds even if that money was never forthcoming from county government. That does not sound like a BOE that has no concern for school system employees. The BOE successfully and honestly negotiated the bonus payment with four of the five unions representing school system employees. Only HCEA chose not to accept the terms (which are exactly the same as those now HCEA now accepts) of the offer the therefore is the last to receive the bonus.
BOE Member?
No, HCEA was sent a take it or leave it notice.
The same as the BOE. Eventually HCEA recognized this was the only deal on the table (as stipulated by county government) and took it. The BOE was just the pass through entity.
The BOE refused to negotiate for its own reasons. It wanted to compromise HCEA’s case with the labor board.
It wanted to erode collective bargaining. However, the real manipulator in this mess was Mr. Craig, who sought to erode collective bargaining, erode maintenance of effort, which ensures our kids get a minimal education, and tried to set a precedent for stipulating allocated funds.
Oh and I almost forgot, pit all the employees against each other. By the way, Harford County workers should really look at the other unionized workers in other counties. Why should they pay more for their healthcare only to fund a surplus…Check it our county workers…Ask how much the OPEB is…
Ryan Burbrey
You are living large in you mind and are caught in a time warp. The world changed in 2008 and public workers are going to have to learn to live with less just like the private sector.
Forget about your contract, forget about raises, forget about steps and union work rules. You need to wake up to the economic revolution that occurred. No longer are the endless demands of union thugs going to be acquiesced to. No more free pass for the public sector employees at the expense of the private sector employees.
Welcome to the new normal.
It is interesting that you say that Mr. Machiavelli. Especially considering that in Harford County private sector wages are on the rise
“According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Harford County ranks among the top 25 municipalities nationwide in wage increases.”
“The information posted on the Department of Labor website also stated: “Harford County recorded the fastest over-the-year wage growth among Maryland’s eight large counties and the third-fastest nationwide, rising 8.8 percent from the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011.””
By your argument shouldn’t public sector employees enjoy this same benefit?
“The information posted on the Department of Labor website also stated: “Harford County recorded the fastest over-the-year wage growth among Maryland’s eight large counties and the third-fastest nationwide, rising 8.8 percent from the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011.””
Almost certainly attributable to the BRAC jobs (and the associated contractors) flooding the county. When you bring in thousands of $75+k/yr jobs, the average is going to move.
Burbey you are perverting the figures by suggesting all workers private and public enjoyed an 8.8% pay increase year over year. This assertion of yours is untrue.
You are disingenuous and should be ashamed.
I have not suggested all workers private and public enjoyed an 8.8% pay increase year over year. What I have done is quoted a report which indicates that wages are rising in the county. Thus, revenue will rise. Thus, the nonsensical assertions by Mr. Craig that we are still in lean times in Harford County is a deliberate and shameful manipulation of the facts.
@Ryan Burbey writes “What I have done is quoted a report which indicates that wages are rising in the county. Thus, revenue will rise.”
Harford County revenues will only rise if real property values appreciate or tax rates are increased.
Hey dumbbut Nicola, HC get an income tax piggy back.
Nicollo, have you heard of the constant yield? It actually means property values mean nothing!
No you need to get the facts straight… They did want to negotiate the bonus funds… They wanted teachers to blindly accept completely ignoring the negotiation process!
Why has Baltimore and Cecil counties maintained the integrity of the teacher contracts but good old harford county has failed miserably?
The other unions negotiated and received the bonus. The BOE had no option but to accept the terms offered by the County Executive and County Council – if not there would have been NO approval by the county government to give the funds to the BOE to disperse to ANY of it’s employees. The other unions recognized the situation and accepted the offer. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. You can split hairs all you want but the point is that the BOE had no options in this case. Refuse to accept the perimeters laid out by the county government and no one in the school system gets anything – period. If the BOE had done this then you could legitimately claim that the BOE cared nothing about their employees. The result shows otherwise.
Does it? You negotiate a contract which you know that the union can’t refuse…You then refuse to pay any part of your negotiated contract despite the fact that you have available funds…You become the ONLY school system to ever be found guilt of BAD FAITH BARGAINING…Does that mean you care about your employees? However, as bad as the school board has acted, Mr. Craig has been far worse. He has painted a picture of economic crisis to his citizens, cut all the programs that mean the most and underfunded schools, but when the bond people or the developers come calling, we are the best thing since sliced bread with our AAA bond rating and our 80,000,000.00 rainy day fund..Brilliant…The school system has acted poorly over the past few years, but they have done so as the result of an austerity budget which was needless and only designed to line the pockets of Mr. Craig’s cronies.
Is it conservative to increase the public debt?
I only address comment number 2 in the article.
PLus big interest free loans to developers on top of a demolished golf course. Then the developer goes bankrupt and I am sure will not pay the taxpayers back. Maybe Craig will float me a huge loan!
Mr. Reinhardt needs to think before he writes something that is false. The BOE had every intention to give the bonus to the teachers. Does this teacher know there is a recession? Other agencies in the county have not gotten raises. I’m thinking that he lives in a world where he can write a letter and poof. Think before you make comments.
Harford County is not in a recession.
@Burbey….Just tell that to the people out of work? Time to get your head out of the sand.
I am sure that there are still people out of work. However, unemployment in Harford County is less than 6.3%. Likewise, “According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Harford County ranks among the top 25 municipalities nationwide in wage increases.The information posted on the Department of Labor website also stated: “Harford County recorded the fastest over-the-year wage growth among Maryland’s eight large counties and the third-fastest nationwide, rising 8.8 percent from the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011.””
Why isn’t Mr. Craig publishing this? Is it because it does not align with his continued abuse of county workers?
Wow…..I live in Harford County and work in the ‘private sector’. I have not gotten an ‘annual’ pay increase in 5 years. I am paying more for health benefits. My partner has been out of work for over a year. We- both professional college graduates- are struggling to get by. I am so relieved that I can rest easy at night now and not toss and turn over the bills, since Ryan Burbey has declared that there is no recession in Harford County!
I agree with Ryan Burbey! Collective county income is increasing at a rapid rate.
We have a wealthy Harford County and we should have a Harford County Income Tax so we can pay teachers their fair share and increase teacher so it exceeds $100,000 for ten months of work.
We should also exempt all county employees from the Harford County Income Tax.
Bryan we do have an income tax….it is known as the piggy back tax on your MD state income return!
We need a special Harford County Income Tax. It’s for the teachers and fair pay!
Again Bryan we have one. Or are you one of those who do not pay taxes so you have no clue!!!!
I believe teachers are CEOs of their own little non-profit companies and should make over $100,000 per year.
Pay the teachers, now!
It seems that some of you are missing the sarcastic tone of the fictitious “Bryan Bruebery.” Whomever is hiding behind this name has a lot of hostility directed at Ryan Burbey. I’ve been reading along throughout the “bonus” fiasco, and have noticed that just about anything Ryan Burbey posts will, at minimum, receive many “thumbs down” ratings. Many posts are hidden due to the low rating. “Bryan Bruebery” (please note the similarity to the name “Ryan Burbey”) has taken a different approach–sarcastically suggesting that property taxes be doubled to bring teachers’ salaries to $100,000 or more.
Stop arguing with this knucklehead!
I get it but it does not change his ignorance of the fact that Harford County has an income tax!
am sure that there are still people out of work. However, unemployment in Harford County is less than 6.3%. Likewise, “According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Harford County ranks among the top 25 municipalities nationwide in wage increases.The information posted on the Department of Labor website also stated: “Harford County recorded the fastest over-the-year wage growth among Maryland’s eight large counties and the third-fastest nationwide, rising 8.8 percent from the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011.””
Why isn’t Mr. Craig publishing this? Is it because it does not align with his continued abuse of county workers?
Report
A recession yes but the board and county had more than enough “extra” to fund those increases. Which actually would not be raises at all but put teachers closer to where they Gould be… Good to know that parents in this community really support their teachers
Fair share? Really? Fair share – if I hear that term again I’m going to puke! Knock off the bogus concern all wrapped up in your little Che Guevera style socialist package!! Free this, free that, I want what he has…after all, it’s my “fair share.”
Burbey and Cerveny have become the poster children for idiotic ideas expressed on this forum. Unfortunately their silliness reflects poorly on all teachers because we all assume that if the teachers elected Cerveny and allow Burbey to speak publicly for them then they all must be as wacko as these two.
We are in mid-February and I haven’t heard of one teacher that has actually received any bonus money. It could have been paid to them 60 days ago. To the teachers I simply say “You voted for the HCEA leadership currently in place. You asked for it and you have received it.” The lesson to be learned here is that decisions have consequences, something all of you preach to your students every day. Unfortunately you forgot that it applies to you as well. And to all of us.
Alex – There are “idiotic ideas” expressed from both the left and the right on this forum. As a fiscal, small government conservative, I hope that readers don’t think that all conservatives are as “wacko” as some people who post here on a regular basis. However, they sure are entertaining.
Mr. R, I would simply say to you this, HCEA is fighting for teachers, students, and our community. The “bonus” is settled so long as Craig holds to his word. The problem that all of Harford County faces is the continued underfunding of schools.