The following letter was sent from Harford County Education Association President Ryan Burbey to Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Canavan and each member of the Harford County Board of Education. A copy was provided to The Dagger for publication:
Dear Ms. Canavan,
In my capacity as the HCEA president, I am required to serve as chief spokesman of the Association. As such, it is my responsibility to communicate the will of our members, the HCEA Representative Assembly and the HCEA Board of Directors. On Thursday, October 26, 2017, the HCEA Representative Assembly voted unanimously to present a specific list of budgetary recommendations to you for your consideration as you develop the superintendent’s proposed budget. The recommendations are as follows:
– Prioritize Funding the HCEA Negotiated Agreement in Full
Teachers have endured a protracted period where their negotiated agreement has not been fully funded. Many teachers are still multiple steps behind on the salary scale. This is causing excessive turn-over, particularly in our most challenged schools. Likewise, recruitment of teacher candidates and experienced teachers is increasingly difficult, especially in high need content areas. Amidst a national teacher shortage, HCPS can ill afford to lose experienced teaching staff. Similarly HCPS must honor its agreements in order to attract the best candidates from surrounding school systems and colleges.
– Review and Expand Access to CTE Programs
While Harford Technical High School has become a truly high-quality educational opportunity for many of our students, many students who would greatly benefit from traditional vocational education are not able to access the programs at Harford Technical High School due to academic shortcomings or disciplinary infractions. Greater access to CTE programs could only benefit the community and our students.
– Eliminate Instructional Facilitator Position
With few exceptions teachers see instructional facilitators as purely evaluative positions. Teachers do not find the instructional facilitator position to be an effective or efficient model for delivering professional development. Funds currently spent on instructional facilitators could be better utilized to support strategic professional development opportunities and to compensate teachers for steps lost during the salary freeze. Were HCPS to employ the teacher specialist model of professional for elementary schools that is already employed in secondary schools, there would be significant savings. This shift would also facilitate better professional development since the newly created elementary teacher specialists would be able to focus solely on professional development rather than spending the bulk of their time performing administrative tasks related to evaluations.
– Set System-Wide Enrollment and Staffing Metrics
Currently, there are no discernable staffing metrics to determine the number of assistant principals or other staff dedicated to each building. The ratios of students to administrators, as well as, the ratios of students to staff are inconsistent and inequitable. Consistent staffing ratios for administration and instructional staff throughout Harford County schools would ensure that all buildings receive an equitable distribution of staff. Simply adding additional administrative staff has not proven to be an effective means to improve achievement or climate within our at-risk schools.
– Implement Depot Busing for Harford Technical High School
For several years, students at every magnet school with the exception of Harford Technical High School have utilized depot stops for transportation. It seems only logical for students at Harford Technical High School to utilize the same busing. This would ensure that depot buses maximize potential savings.
– Reduce or Eliminate Funding for Conference Attendance
HCPS should reduce or eliminate funding for employees to attend conferences. While these may be valuable opportunities, these funds could be better used to support strategic professional development opportunities and to compensate teachers for steps lost during the salary freeze.
– Reduce Central Office Administrative Staff
HCPS must reduce positions within its bureaucratic structure to be more efficient.
– Re-Examine School Allocations
Currently, principals receive categorized per pupil allocations to support programming at their schools. It is unclear whether these allocations are justified by existing programing. One example of this is the allocation for gifted and talented services in secondary schools.
– Re-Examine Sports Programs
While we agree that sports are a relevant and important aspect of providing a quality public school education, it is unclear if the current athletics programs support community interest or are cost-effective. Re-examining the interest levels, coaching positions allocated and operational costs of each program at each high school would allow HCPS to ensure that funds are spent efficiently on programs which hold the greatest interest to school communities and Harford County as a whole.
– Limit Travel Distance for Interscholastic Athletics and Extracurricular Activities
Longer travel distances substantially increase costs. While these activities are an important part of public school education, more efficiency must be employed in scheduling.
– Address Excess Capacity Issues
According to the November 28, 2016 enrollment report HCPS had 6,800 seats empty within schools across the county. This is an increase of 174 seats empty since last year. If projections hold true, this number will balloon to nearly 7,300 empty seats by 2022. It is important to note that the increase in empty seats this year exceeded projections. This excess capacity issue must be addressed. HCPS must create a sustainable means of addressing capacity issues within schools and across the county.
– Establish System-Wide Minimal Program
Currently there is no systemic approach to programing. Some elementary schools are departmentalized, while others are not. Some middle schools have multiple foreign languages, while others have no true foreign language program. In order to provide equitable educational opportunities for all students there must be a systemic approach to programing.
– Consolidate Middle School and High School Busing System-Wide
For decades North Harford Middle School and North Harford High School have utilize consolidated busing. There is simply no defensible reasoning why this cannot be implemented in all middle and high schools located in close proximity to one another. This would create greater efficiency in the transportation budget by eliminating busses, which currently operate well under capacity.
– Implement Transportation Opt-Out for High School Drivers
High school students who opt to drive to school and apply for a parking pass should be required to opt-out of bus transportation. This would provide a more accurate count of children who are actually riding the bus each day. There is no reason to reserve seats on buses for students who have no intention of using them.
– Implement and Capture System-Wide Parking Fees for High School Drivers
Currently, some high schools charge a fee for issuing parking passes to students. These fees should not remain controlled by the schools, but rather should be recaptured and redistributed equitably within the budget. All high schools should implement a parking fee to offset costs of maintaining of parking lots.
– Consolidate Bus Routes
Currently, HCPS buses operate well below capacity. Many buses circulate nearly devoid of students.
– Reduce Non-Public Special Education Placements
HCPS spends an exorbitant amount on non-public, special education placements. These funds could be recaptured by designing and implementing programs which meet the needs of students to whom nonpublic placements are currently provided.
– Eliminate PSAT Testing
PSAT testing no longer occurs solely during the school day. This results in an increased cost for proctors and facilities usage. This is an unnecessary and burdensome program.
– Reduce Local Standardized Testing Mandates
According to a 2014 Baltimore Sun article, HCPS requires among the most locally mandated testing in Maryland. In addition to the instructional time lost when administering these tests, there is a financial cost of producing, implementing and monitoring these tests, which could be recaptured if a less onerous approach to locally mandated testing was implemented. HCEA has seen no change in the amount of standardized testing required by HCPS.
– Establish and Enforce System-Wide Cost Savings Measures for Supply Usage
HCPS must implement a systemic approach to managing supply costs. Substantial savings could be realized by simply implementing two-sided printing system-wide. Other supply costs could be reduced through large-scale purchasing rather than school based purchasing.
– Establish and Enforce System-Wide Cost Savings Measures for Recycling
Every ounce of waste that is recycled rather than placed in trash dumpsters saves the system money. HCPS pays for trash removal, but not recycling. Currently many recyclables end up in the trash due to carelessness and lack of monitoring. Many schools do not have designated paper recycling containers in either classrooms, planning rooms, offices or copy rooms.
– Eliminate School Usage Funding
Currently, schools which are used more often receive additional “bonus” funds. Ultimately, this creates an inequitable funding structure.
– Eliminate Voluntary Summer School Programs
Summer school has not proven to be an effective remediation. Students who do not receive ESY services mandated through IEPs should not receive free summer school.
– Reduce Summer Curriculum Development Funding
Summer curriculum development often leads to select teachers receiving additional funds to develop curriculum which may or may not be useful system-wide. The goals of summer curriculum development could easily be accomplished within professional development days were time and resources dedicated to a systemic approach of accomplishing these goals.
– Utilize Open Source Materials When Available
HCPS currently makes significant expenditures purchasing and replacing texts which are available in open source formats. Similarly, much of the content being taught throughout our schools is available through open source documents.
– Reduce System-Wide Consumable Usage
HCPS should not purchase or implement programing which requires the purchase of publisher created consumables.
– Partner With HCC to Consolidate Duplicative Programing
Advanced coursework, such as IT classes, which are currently available at the community college need not be offered through public schools. Students should be encouraged to enroll in community college classes which meet their individual needs. HCPS should partner with Harford County College to create an efficient, efficacious, vertically aligned system of public education.
– Partner with Harford County Government to Consolidate Duplicative Services
It simply makes no sense for HCPS and Harford County Government to operate duplicative departments which perform the same function. Savings could be realized through greater cooperation. One glaring example of this is snow removal. Were HCPS to partner with Harford County Government, snow removal could be accomplished more efficiently and expeditiously, thereby reducing costs both to HCPS and Harford County Government.
– Increase and Capture Gate Charges to Defray Costs of Sports and Extracurricular Events
HCPS should calculate the cost of staging various events and set the gate charges to offset the costs to include staffing and energy resources. These gate charges should be recaptured from schools and equitably redistributed through the budget.
– Reduce Legal Fees by Utilizing HCPS Internal Counsel
HCPS currently employs a general counsel who receives a salary of over $148,000. Yet, HCPS employs outside counsel and consultants for a plethora of issues. Seemingly, these tasks should fall under the purview and responsibilities of HCPS internal counsel.
– Reduce Legal Fees by Fostering Greater Cooperation with HCEA
HCPS has incurred significant legal expenses simply because administration and various administrators refuse to make legitimate attempts to cooperate and compromise with HCEA. Many of the issues that are creating additional legal fees arise out of failure on the part of administration to follow the Negotiated Agreement and failure to allow HCEA appropriate access to its unit members.
– Eliminate all Testing Preparation Classes, Programs and Expenditures
Currently, HCPS utilizes a variety of supplemental test preparation programs, classes and materials. One example is SAT prep class in high schools. Testing preparation classes and programs run counter to accepted pedagogy.
– Establish System-Wide Expectations for the Number of Periods Per Day Each Teacher, Department Chair, Specialist, etc. Must Actively Teach Students
Currently, there is no systemic approach to the assignment of minimal teaching duty, particularly in secondary schools but also with regard to specialists within elementary schools.
– Establish System-Wide Minimum Class-Size Expectations
There currently are no system-wide minimum class size parameters or expectations. This inherently creates an unequitable and inefficient staffing model.
– Monitor and Report Students Who Receive High School Attendance Waivers
Students who are released on waivers for a portion of their day in high school reduce the number of students actually enrolled in classes at any particular time. Thus, staffing allocations can become disproportionate. Without monitoring the number of students who are approved for waivers, it is impossible for HCPS to properly allocate staffing.
– Prioritize Funding for Implementation of Restorative Practices
In order to ensure success for all students, HCPS must move away from a strictly punitive disciplinary system. Students should be encouraged to reach positive resolutions for conflicts and to understand the implications of their decisions. Teachers require training to implement this kind of proactive disciplinary measures. Restorative practices have proven successful in reducing inappropriate behavior and improving school climates nationwide.
– Expand Supportive Services and Staffing for At-Risk Schools and Populations
Currently, our at-risk students including children in at-risk, high poverty schools and English Language Learners do not have sufficient access to social workers, school psychologists or ELL teachers. Often our school psychologists and ELL teachers, particularly those in at-risk schools have excessively high caseloads. HCPS must dedicate additional services and staffing in order to appropriately meet the needs of our at-risk students.
– Expand Before and Aftercare Programs to All Elementary Schools
While many of our elementary schools currently have before and aftercare options available to students and parents, many schools still do not have either before school child care or after school childcare available on-site. HCPS should ensure that working parents have access to reliable before school and afterschool care on site at their child’s elementary school.
We recognize that these recommendations denote a level of sacrifice by all stakeholders. We also recognize that if implemented these recommendations could result in staff reductions and reductions in services at some schools or within administration. However, we feel that in order for HCPS to create a sustainable system, significant changes must occur.
For too long HCPS has expected its staff, teachers and at-risk communities to absorb increased cost of doing business and inefficient implementation of programing through insufficient support and stagnant wages. This failed strategy is having a profound deleterious effect on our schools. Likewise, it threatens future funding structures as our staff exit to other local school systems; rather than putting down roots in our community by purchasing homes and contributing to the tax base. Creating a sustainable school system is not merely defined by honoring our salary commitments to teachers but rather by establishing the protocols, practices and procedures necessary to ensure that HCPS can honor its commitments to all stakeholders, including teachers, even in lean budget years. Our at-risk neighborhoods hold the best hope for future opportunity and revenue growth in Harford County. HCPS must play an active role in revitalizing these neighborhoods, restoring faith in our at-risk schools and providing opportunities for our most fragile families. The current status quo is not accomplishing these goals. Ultimately, we believe new budgetary and programmatic measures are necessary to create an environment which best serves the needs of all our children and our community.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Ryan Burbey
President-HCEA
Many of your suggestions make sense, and although it would be nice if HCPS worked with you to meet some of these goals, you know they have no intention to do so. Voices of principals, teachers, etc. are heard with deaf ears. It is a top down model and positions at central office are protected to make their jobs easier.
Watch to see Canavan make an announcement in the next two or three months that she will retire rather than see if the Board would approve her next term as Superintendent. She is more interested in control, and won’t wait to face the music. This will allow her to save face if the Board does not approve her continuing. Stay tuned.
Please consider using these suggestions to guide your questions and comments when you participate in the Superintendent’s Virtual Town Hall. http://www.hcps.org/budget/
Alot of the work is contracted out, at outrageous prices – train our facilities workers – train our custodians to do some of this work. This will reduce the amount paid to contractors and then we could start to pay our facilities and custodians more also reducing overhead we could pay everyone more.
Some of the instructional contracts for supplies is not the best deal in town,
You assume she would want another term. Maybe she wants to rest after close to 50 years in education.
50 years that would be one hell of a big pension.
Really—–50 years; is the gravy train that good. Yes, time for her to move on.
Let me guess we will cut swimming, drama, and the same other programs they always say. People will yell and scream and then we put them back in? Better yet we will punish people by charging them more money to do things.
And please . . . there is talk of moving the excellent cybersecurity program away from Harford Tech and into the new HavreDeGrace High School – don’t do it. Teacher Joe Fetters is doing an excellent job with the kids at that location, and moving it to the isolated corner of the County makes no sense to us as parents. Many of us have discussed this together and are opposed to such a move. Our daughter is in the cyber program, and loves everything about it and the school overall. Chas Hagen was a great principal, and now, Joe Collins is also doing great things there. Don’t change a good thing . . . please.
https://harford.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=2540
Why do they a job opening for this occupied position for 2017-2018 school year?
What don’t you know?
All I know is that the kids are very happy in Mr. Fetters program. Don’t mess with a good thing.
But, why do you think think there is a vacancy for a Cyber security teacher?
If I was you, I would be straightforward and ask.
No idea why there is a vacancy announcement. All I know is that our daughter and her classmates are very happy in the program. Why do we need to move it to HdeG? It’s running great at Tech.
What’s your bias with Havre De Grace? It’ll be great there, and kids can get the same “certification.”
It seems to be your worried about some Route 40 corridor stigma.
Would you be stopping your feet and shaking your fist of cyber security was moved to Edgewood? I think yes if you all are so uptight about a relocation to Havre de Grace that won’t likely happen for years, if ever. LOL
Obviously there is a job vacancy because a candidate needs to get hired. Is there need for a second teacher?
At least you can’t act surprised to any sudden personnel changes in days/weeks/months coming
“It seems to be your worried about some Route 40 corridor stigma.”
I am. When BRAC was announced the State said it was going to make all kinds of improvements to the Rt. 40 corridor. So here we are, 10+ years beyond the initial announcement, and Rt. 40 has the same pawn shops, x-rated movie shops, junk yards and buildings falling down as it did the day BRAC was announced. HdeG has fared no better and I’m wondering a., what happened to all those promises, and, b., why are we building a new school in HdeG when the Rt. 40 blight still exists and the school enrollment projected increases attributed to BRAC have not come to fruition? Doing so does not seem to be in the taxpayers best interest.
I mean, where were you when Aberdeen High School was rebuilt? Not yet shipped in with the BRAC bus?
Why are you even worried? Your kid will be long graduated before a hypothetical rebuild of Havre De Grace high school and the “cyber security” kids being bussed there.
Did you ask the current cyber security teachers what’s up with that employment announcement for a teacher in a class he teaches yet?
So while the kids may be happy, what is the success rate of the program? How many move on to “true” cyber-security roles in industry?
How many high school students are leaving Harford Tech with industry-standard IT certifications?
Happiness of students should not be the gauge of a successful program.
The majority of the kids in my daughters class with Fetters have their A+ certification and are working on more. My engineer friends tell me thats an amazing statistic: high school kids already having certifications. I don’t think (if I am wrong correct me) that kids are coming out of HdeG high school with certifications.
This guy makes me laugh. He’s so worried about the program being moved to a school that isn’t built, will likely take years to be built.
Meanwhile, it’s evident there is something more relative to the “cyber security” program at hand to include a hiring vacancy for the teacher.
I’d be more worried about a new teacher then a school bot built and the logistics of the program being routed to the new school.
Yeah, if Have de Grace high kids arent getting certifications because there are no technical/trade certifications offer.
Common sense, right? A lot other trades in Harford Tech have official industry”certifications” the students can achieve.
If Have De Grace becomes the cyber security magnet school, don’t you think the same “certifications” can be offered to take? LOL
Let’s be real, the only “certification” people want/are after is Security Plus. What is it? $350 to take it?
What if by moving it they could open up more spots in the program and more opportunities for children in the program? A lot of Tech programs are long muted because of physical space.
This reads like the guy sitting on the fan tail of the Titanic looking for icebergs. Why are lawyers fees and gate fees even being discussed by HCEA? Ryan instead of always complaining about what everyone else is doing how about coming up with some real solutions to the problems, that’s what you get paid for.
Do you know what they call the person who comments on an article whose comment reflects they didn’t read the article?
Clearly one of us didn’t read the article and it ain’t me.
HCPS spends a substantial amount of money on outside lawyer fees, check the audit, financial reports or budget. Gate fees are harder to ascertain but they also amount to substantial amounts of money that should not reside at individual schools but rather be recaptured to be utilized to maintain facilities and programs. There are many real solutions listed. HCPS would save over a million dollars by cutting the instructional facilitator position alone. During my term as president HCEA has offered many solutions. In fact, we have saved HCPS millions by helping to restructure healthcare while maintaining benefits. If you have solutions, offer them.
HCPS spent around 10K on Attorney Andrew Nussbaum defending their position in Due Process to keep our son in a non public placement that cost 60K per year, when a far less expensive alternative existed, (but no in-county program.) Along with another parent, we withdrew our child from Gateway School in order to homeschool – we have since left the county. The HCPS liason (on salary approaching six figures) in an entire school year, hadn’t managed to meet or observe our son, or even ensure that the school implement our son’s IEP. HCPS have no accountability for their reckless spending, or a largely bloated, self-serving Central Office. There are serious issues with transparency, fiscal responsibility and general integrity. I requested information on the cost of non-public placements and the transportation costs in HCPS through the freedom of information act. I received a response from Patrick Spicer stating it would take Robin Meyer (non-public placement officer) 40 plus hours to gather the information at a cost of over $1,100!
Why shouldn’t get fees stay at the school they were originally collected? I attend HTHS Football and basketball games and don’t see why my $5.00 gate fee shouldn’t stay there.
Gate fees should be recaptured because the school does not fund the facility maintenance.
You said, “Ryan instead of always complaining about what everyone else is doing how about coming up with some real solutions to the problems, that’s what you get paid for.”
Point by point he offers solutions or suggestions. That’s not complaining, that is what it is. Pointing out problems without offering solutions or suggestions is whining/complaining. I guess you just missed that part of everything he said.
Thank you.
Many of these suggestions make sense, which ensures that HCPS will ignore them.
Mr. Burbey always spews suggestions but he really has no accountability in the implementation of these suggestions. Remember the breath of his experience is that of a 10+ year a middle school teacher. He never speaks to the consequences of these suggestions. He was elected (unopposed) by a few hundred of the thousands of teachers.
While I may only be a middle school teacher, I am a middle school teacher who has read the budget cover to cover many times. I have tabulated individual budget categories and tracked them over time. I have monitored salary expenditures on administration and administrative positions, which have climbed as enrollment has fallen. Would you like to know the consequences of cutting the instructional facilitator position? None. Elementary principals will have to do their own evaluations without additional administrative support. I also should note that these recommendations were not offered by me alone. They were voted on by building representatives from across the county and passed unanimously. Further, I have been elected twice running unopposed. Do you know why? It is because I am doing my job. Check the record.
I would like to address the high school drivers and having an accurate count for the school buses. NHHS and most HS do not give out parking passes for the entire school year but rather by the marking period. Not everyone that applies is granted a pass. My child had a pass for the 1st quarter for marching band and play practice and swimming for the 2nd quarter. She probably will be back to taking the bus for quarters 3 & 4.
HCPS over estimates the bus riders by nearly one third minimum by setting limits on riders far below the actual capacity of the busses. It is my understanding that most high schools do not have a shortage of parking passes. Regardless, if there is a set number of passes and those students are not on busses, they should not be included in the reader count. If you think that the buses are being operated at capacity, just go to some schools at dismissal and take a look at how many kids are on the buses.
Any rational person would understand that an accurate count couldn’t be taken at dismissal with clubs, sports, and other after school activities.
Why are buses even a concern of HCEA?
A service provided but not required and cost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
HCEA should either update their mission statement or concentrate on those items currently contained in that statement.
You must not know our mission statement. Every single item listed in this letter relates to our mission.
Harford County Education Association commits itself to advocate for educational professionals and to promote a high quality public education that prepares students to succeed in a diverse and global society.
Our mission:
To work for the welfare of school children, the advancement of education, and the improvement of instructional opportunities for all;
To develop and promote the adoption of such ethical practices, personnel policies, and standards of preparation and participation as mark a profession;
To unify and strengthen the teaching profession and to secure and maintain the salaries, retirement, tenure, professional and sick leave, and other working conditions necessary to support teaching as a profession;
To enable members to speak with a common voice on matters pertaining to the teaching profession and to present their individual and common interests before the Board of Education and other legal authorities
For your future reference, You can find our mission statement on our website. http://harfordcea.org/who-we-are/
Ryan,
Did you sleep at Holiday Inn Express last night? You sure know a lot about management of transportation for someone who has never owned a bus company. You cherry pick but really have know idea of the big picture. More importantly you don’t have to answer to customers (parents and the community).
I slept at my home in Aberdeen. I have sat through the discussions of transportation for multiple years. I also know how to count and multiply. If North Harford can ride consolidated middle school and high school buses, so can every other school where the high school and middle school are in close proximity. HCPS transportation is extremely inefficient. Check out the comparison rankings with other school systems.
Not sure 6 graders should be exposed to 12 graders….Why are we pushing the “innocence of youth” away?
Six graders already are exposed to 12th graders. Also, kids have assigned seats on the bus. They can be seated such that there is little to no interaction. Having taught 2nd-8th grade, I can tell you that there is little that most kids have not been exposed to already in sixth grade. There are rules on the bus. If kids violate the rules by harassing, cursing, discussing topics which are inappropriate or bullying, it needs to be reported. Also, I think in most cases kids will surprise you with their empathy and maturity. If you set high expectations for them they will rise to them. Further, I am not sure how many 12 graders ride any bus.
I can also tell you from my experience as a child that I rode the bus with high school kids. They really did not want to have anything to do with us when I was in junior high school. Correspondingly, it has been happening in North Harford for decades. If it is ok for them, it is ok for everyone.
My children rode on the bus for MANY MANY years where middle schoolers rode along with high school students…. and I did myself from 1987 – 1991. I turned out just fine. It saves a tremendous amount of money and works well. There is nothing wrong with this suggestion.
@holiday inn know nothing
You sound bitter. Burbey at least sounds like he has done his DD and is informed, and I don’t even like the guy.
Redistricting and closing the smaller schools will save a lot of money. Stopping the new unneeded high school would save even more.
While that sounds great from a taxpayer standpoint neither the county or the workers will ever support making things smaller, reducing jobs and saving money.
Maybe the politicians won’t but many if not most teachers do if can you read.
How do you know it will save money? What evidence supports your position? What cost analysis have you done?
Stupid is as stupid posts. Give us a break dude. So you dislike Burbey – news flash so does half the idiots that have historically posted on here. Separate the emotion from no-brainer, common sense, in your face, obvious, cost saving suggestions. Where have you been for the last decade?
Doesn’t have thing to do with him. It has to do with facts and no one on this thread has looked at what the savings would be. How much is a lot? So you save million but end up spending money to bus the students and kill a community school.
You moron anyone can realize busing kids a few miles down the road is cheaper than operating a school building.
” Stopping the new unneeded high school would save even more.”
Exactly – why do we even need a new HdeG high school anyway?
But it’s not just Canavan and the HCPS administration. It’s every member of the Board of Education that is at fault. They have all failed to make any necessary changes in HCPS. Few if any of these and other proposals have been brought up by any of the board members for a vote. We’ve had some grandstanding recently on the budget by members of the board, but no real action.
While I certainly agree that some members of the Board of Education hold hared responsibility with the administration. There is an increasingly vocal minority, who have fought to bring transparency and to make reasonable cuts. What appears as grandstanding may actually be the minority who consistently fight for the best interests of our kids, our teachers and our community trying desperately to force necessary and important changes. I have attended or watched every board of education meeting for nearly six years. Watch the videos. You will see.
Please don’t fall for the posturing of the board members. Very few if any of the proposals you mention above have been brought up for a floor vote. Great ideas, but where is all the board action? I am frankly tired of all the lip service from the board after all these years. We need real action and not this tiptoeing around so that people don’t annoy other politicians in Harford County.
The Aegis has fallen for it as well.
I have watched the board meetings so please don’t make the assumption that I have not. The last one where the budget was discussed was full of grandstanding for reelection or reappointment.
Majority rules. It is crucial that a majority is created to address issues. This is not always easy in the face of stonewalling and disinformation.
Canavan NEEDS TO GO!! Many of the Board of ed need to start over fresh. Stale ideas… and no open minds. There are so many things that have gotten WORSE AND WORSE with Canavan in office. RETIRE and do us all a favor. Please and Thank you.
As a high-school teacher in this county, there are a few other issues that should be addressed as well. For example–at my school, some department chairs only teach three classes instead of six like everyone else in the school. Multiply that by three or four per school and you’ve got two teaching positions that could be added to alleviate large class sizes. Oh yes–maybe take a look at that as well…some teachers have classloads of (150)+, with thirty students in each section, while others have classes running at nine or ten. Perhaps at the school level, scheduling should be reevaluated since we’re all making the same pay but some of us are managing twice as many students as others (yep, that would be me). Level the playing field and cut the waste, including that insane facilitator position. I couldn’t tell you who the facilitator is at our school or what he or she even does. So much waste, so much inequality and a ridiculous lack of efficiency across this county. I’m grateful for my job and I love my students, but the lack of morale in my building is the lowest its been in the 25 years I’ve been there. Thank goodness I love my students and the actual teaching itself, because the bureaucracy is maddening.
Yes sir, that is in the letter. Setting a consistent minimum number of classes taught by all instructional staff is essential. Setting minimum class sizes is essential. There may be some variance but having 9 or 10 high school students in a class is dysfunctional. Electives which attract only a small group must be strategically rotated, not offered in year-long sections every year.
Wow… thanks for sharing that insight. I can only hope people who read it really understand what you said. You are pissed others are getting paid the same as you and they get to do less You actually said it with wanting to “level the playing field”… All you want to do is less for the same pay. I don’t fault you , you are a product of the government system designed by it’s members to always want more for doing less. The whole system is broken with no one really trying to fix it they are just interested in getting their slice of the pie.
No. What we are trying to say is that everyone should be teaching a set number of classes as defined by their role. Department chairs also observe teachers. They do need some time to do this but it should be consistent. The number of teaching periods varies widely. I know I personally have been in the awkward situation of saying that I was not scheduled enough children and needed to have more teaching time. The whole system is not broken. It just has gotten out of alignment with what should be core priorities. Most school systems centrally monitor enrollment and staffing, making sure that staffing aligns with enrollment at all schools.
Abusive taxpayer,
What a blatant poor spin job with your obvious agenda. You are either working for HCPS upper management or feel when when Burbey makes sense you just attack him anyway and sound like a complete nut job. In the past, there was a lot to disagree with Burbey about, but he has hit the nail on the head with most of his points.
Ha ha…no, I don’t want to do less for the same pay, but thank you for suggesting that. My point is that the school system can save money by balancing things. Yes, it IS frustrating to see someone doing less and getting the same pay, but that’s how the world works. HOWEVER, if a teacher has three classes of nine students each, certainly those classes could be combined into one section. I also know that there are exceptions and reasons, but it happens quite a bit. Like the buses that are transporting one or two students. There are things that really need to be investigated.
Ryan–thank you for your support and insight.
TeacherLurker
Ummmm you don’t know who your facilitator is because high schools don’t have them. Come on man.
Surely you jest, right?
Um no you idiot. They haven’t been in high schools for years now.
Thanks Citizen–you’re right! They got rid of facilitators in the high-schools when they dropped the block schedule three years ago. How dumb of me.
Love…Love…Love these points! I worked in an elementary school and we were just talking about the lack of recycling at our school. It’s a joke! Why do we have recycling cans around the school for it to be dumped into the regular trash? Such a waste!! Another thing the county needs to look at is elementary staff positions…particularly special area. In some of the smaller schools, the special area have over 10+ planning periods a week! Those smaller schools should be sharing staff to save money! I also wish they would get rid of IF’s but the principals will fight and fight to keep those positions. Finally, you point on testing it right on. If parents of Kindergarten kids just knew how many days the regular teacher is out of the classroom doing testing they would have a fit. Stop the testing!!!
First by contract Athletic and Department chairs get planning periods for doing those jobs. If you want the extra planning apply for the position.
HCPS has a lot of problems, but the biggest issue is the county funding. If the rate of growth financially is lets say 3%, you can’t continually give the school system less then that. On average of the last decade I will bet that the county has funded the school system on average at about 1% or less. I know you some will say tighten the belts, but some things can’t be changed. The school system deals with a variety of businesses, and if they raise cost the schools must meet them. You can find waste in any large corporation. The big difference is they private businesses can cut employee’s the school system can’t have classes of 50.
During the Craig tenure he funded the school system consistently at less then 1% more each year. The solution is simple, but no one wants to hear. Property taxes must be raised to meet the needs of Harford County.
I have been a staunch advocate for increased funding. The Craig administration did a tremendous disservice to our public schools. However, the Glassman administration has been contributing much more. The funding problem is not restricted to the county. State funding for HCPS has been wildly problematic. The formula disadvantages HCPS. Currently there is a commission studying school funding in MD. It is call the Kirwin Commission. It will be making recommendations soon.
All of that said, budgets are about priorities. HCPS has consistently prioritized maintaining the status quo despite obvious inadequacies and inefficiencies. Further, HCPS has prioritized maintaining a robust administrative bureaucracy over maintaining teaching level positions. Rather than compromise HCPS continues to dig in their feet. Growth in the county is not 3%. It has not been 3% for some time. HCPS will tell you they have a revenue problem. Funding authorities will say that it is a problem of inefficiency. The truth is that it is both. HCPS must become more efficient, maximizing every single dollar it receives. Funding also must increase.
Speaking to the Department Chairs and Athletic Directors, there is no consistency. There must be a reasonable set standard for how many periods each department chair or athletic director is expected to teach. Likewise, there should be a set standard for all faculty. HCPS must start running itself like a school system rather than a loose confederacy of schools.
Enrollment is down and projected to continue that direction. Please tell us taxpayers why the system needs more money?.
Surely you jest?
It’s going to cost money just to “study” the declining enrollment. Going to need a advisory board of self proclaimed experts to meet weeknights to finally come up with pages of information we already know.
Don’t forget about the cost to get food/beverage delivery too.
Get with the picture, man. LOL
“Surely you jest,” was in response to “high schools don’t have facilitators.” Just to clarify.
Not all Dept Chairs get an extra period. The rules vary by school.
Frankly, the school system needs more money because it has many unmet needs. However, the enrollment issues also need to be addressed. The school system ,must efficiently deliver services to all the students. Waste must be cut. Efficiencies must be found. John Q public may have a tough time understanding all the complexities of the school system. HCPS must do a better job of explaining. They must also act more diligently to change the status quo so that they have credibility.
Today at 4:30 PM, Superintendent Canavan will hold a virtual town hall on the budget. You can participate through email or twitter.
http://www.hcps.org/budget/
Please consider using the budget recommendations that the HCEA RA has offered as a guide.
Please do not let your voice go unheard. This presents a unique opportunity to provide input on the HCPS Budget.
I will, and I have a heck of a lot more to say now that I’ve read about the things you want to abolish. The well rounded and safe student does not seem to be your priority. I see why many don’t join your union. Also, programming is spelled with 2 ms. Have a nice day,
Who are you trying fool? Nobody is that dense. Nice try with the use of “heck” to sound all just one of the common folk. You’re just another pro HCPS status quo hiding behind a cute little name. Nobody cares about spelling on here but people with little of value to comment.
Wow. This virtual town hall is a disaster.
I am sorry if I misspelled anything. If you could advise me where I did it, I would appreciate it. I can assure you as a parent, teacher, community member & union president that I want safe, well-rounded & well-educated students.
It appears both spellings are acceptable.
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/244280/programming-versus-programing-which-is-preferred
Comrade Burbey is still doing the peoples work. Thank you for further re-educating the youth. In just a few years we will be able to have our glorious revolution.
I believe we are at the point where hcps must look at big cuts. Cutting all extra curricular activities, or closing down certain schools. If they do it, it will save huge amounts, or it will create such an uproar that it may force the county to give more funds to the school system.
Lets be honest they propose the same cuts every year. Then they end up putting half of those back in anyway.
It would not be appropriate or necessary for HCPS to cut all extracurricular activities. There are schools with declining enrollment. Before closings are considered, schools should be redistricted and there should be a comprehensive plan with the county to drive development in the declining areas.
There is a lot of fat that can still be cut. The problem is that people get comfortable and think they cannot do with less. Take a look at how many staff have been added to central office – both administratively and additional teachers to assist supervisors – alll at the cost of staff in schools. You’ll never see them make meaningful cuts there. I can think of ten cuts without impacting schools. Mark my words.
I know some administrators who should be cut ??
Holy crud, I agree with Burbey about something: The busing in HCPS is pants-on-head stupid.
Put middle schoolers on the bus with high schoolers and they might even be able to have all elementary schools start at the same time, whichever time that might be.
But, I immediately disagree with his suggestion to require a student with a parking pass surrender his seat on the bus. Burbey fails to consider the students that use the parking pass only on the days when they have an after-school activity and ride the bus on the non-activity days. Parents might carpool on activity days or make other arrangements to make sure a child has the car available, but that might only be one or two days per week, and the parents need the car the other days so the child needs that seat on the bus.
Burbey also fails to mention possible cost savings by sending sedans or minivans for out-of-county placements or homeless students who are traveling outside of a normal bus route. There is no need to waste an entire 44-passenger bus with its attendant maintenance and fuel costs when they could use a minivan or even more efficient mid-size sedan to move those individual students.
Funding generated at each school through gate fees should stay at that school. The school needs that money to pay for the poster supplies, pep rally materials, etc, that are hung up around the school to encourage team spirit. Redistributing the wealth across all schools does not positively reward the students who do a good job to build that team spirit, thus encouraging their classmates and parents to attend those games and pay the gate fees.
What’s next? Expecting dance ticket sales to go to the central office as well, or outrage that the schools hire outside DJs instead of using an iPod set to random-shuffle on royalty-free music? Bring back the battle of the bands, everyone loves crappy music for their senior proms provided by their fellow students.
I really loved this one:
“– Reduce Legal Fees by Fostering Greater Cooperation with HCEA
HCPS has incurred significant legal expenses simply because administration and various administrators refuse to make legitimate attempts to cooperate and compromise with HCEA. Many of the issues that are creating additional legal fees arise out of failure on the part of administration to follow the Negotiated Agreement and failure to allow HCEA appropriate access to its unit members.”
If the President of HCEA didn’t behave objectionably on HCPS property towards HCPS employees and get himself banned from said for an entire school year, wouldn’t this be less of an issue?
Aren’t union activities also supposed to take place on HCEA members’ personal email accounts and their personal time, not using HCPS computers, email accounts, etc?
I am glad we agree on something. However, I must clarify. I was found to not have done anything objectionable on HCPS property. You can read the ruling of the PSLRB here.
http://laborboards.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2016/04/1518_001.pdf
I would also like to clarify that these recommendations were voted on and unanimously approved by the HCEA Representative Assembly. They are not merely my recommendations.
However, the issues to which we are referring are continuous violations of the negotiated agreement for which we have filed multiple grievances. You should request the record of legal fees paid by HCPS via MPIA. You will see what We are talking about.
We are advocating that gate fees be used to offset maintenance costs and personal costs associated with sports and activities first. Isn’t it sound financing to pay for the program?
The unfortunate reality is that the schools are required by law to use the buses. They cannot privately contract sedans or van or any other transportation.
Find Ryan Burbey’s early facebook page postings and you’ll see the type of liberal partisan mean spirited person that he really is. Why the teachers ever elected this type of representative is beyond many of us…
I find it completely unreasonable that a person using the moniker “North Harford Law” has the audacity to claim someone is “mean spirited” when the law of North Harford County is comprised of a group of lying perjuring scumbags. If you want to know why they elected this man I suggest you go and ask the teachers yourself. A reasonable person would recognize that Mr. Burbey got elected because he represents the leadership the teachers wanted to follow. That is what elections are all about….
Respectfully, I am not mean-spirited. My personal political leanings are utterly irrelevant. I am certainly not partisan. I have represented, worked with and campaigned for both Republicans and Democrats. In my position as HCEA President, I have sought solutions to education issues and social issues affecting our teachers and students. My members are basically spit 50/50 Republican and Democrat. I represent their interests. I am a single issue voter. I vote for candidates who support our public schools, support public education, support our teachers and support our students. During my tenure as HCEA President, HCEA has, without bias endorsed both Republicans and Democrats, who support public education. We will continue to do so. I was elected and re-elected by our teachers because they know that I will fight to defend their rights, the rights of their students and to improve public education. I made very specific promises when I ran. I have kept every single one and will continue working to fulfill each and every commitment that I made which has not been fully realized. Bet on it.
I am in agreement with so many of your points Mr. Burbey. Teacher Facilitators are a wasted position with an over-inflated salary. Waste of our taxpayer money. Would rather see that money put into additional help for inclusion helpers to assist the over-worked teachers who have to handle difficult student behaviors with no relief when there is an emergency. This is fact. So many things need to be overhauled… starting with the administration office. Ridiculous over-spending etc. etc. There needs accountability…
it is also difficult to support Canavan when she supports a policy that places letters of reprimant in teachers’ personnel files who have to take off several days for CANCER treatments – talk about heartless and unethical. We need changes as soon as possible.