800 teachers protest contract at Board of Education meeting

By ELISABETH HULETTE, Staff Writer

Capital Gazette Communications

Published 03/19/09

Clanging cow bells and holding signs that read "Respect" and "It Takes a Village," about 800 public school teachers protested at a county school board meeting last night over ongoing contract negotiations.

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"We're here because we don't believe what's being offered is fair," said Monica Lindsey, a special-education teacher at Old Mill High School in Millersville.

The Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County has spent the past few months negotiating a new contract with school officials, and tension is finally bubbling over.

Lining Riva Road outside the school system's central...

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Mr. Silkworth's spin - 2009-03-22 09:23:26

Mr. Silkworth,

Where were the public comments from the union when the BOE literally took 50 teacher positions budgeted by the county and diverted the funds instead for pay raises? Where was the union when I wrote to the union about an abusive teacher at our children's former school? Where was the union when parent CAC meetings were cut by 50% this year, further disenfranchising a key stakeholder community in the county? The union was out buying ads and endorsing candidates, part of a back room process that excludes parents and taxpayers to put political cronies in positions of authority for which they have no administrative or managerial expertise. It is a bit disingenious to go out and do a protest when the union rolls over for the BOE most of the time. Good luck with the negotiations, and, you do a nice job continuing the tradition of attacking the critics to deflect people's attention from the deficiencies of our county's school system. The only system, by the way, in the local area which has no financial transparency, no oversight and no realisitic strategy.

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Chris Doherty - Harwood, MD - Karma: Excellent

Response to Chris Doherty - 2009-03-21 10:53:21

In response to your question about where TAAAC was when the Board of Ed took 50 classroom teacher jobs and used the money for administrative raises, I will tell you just where the union was. They were standing right next to all teachers and they were advocating for our Anne Arundel County students and for the teachers of this fine county who give more and more of themselves every day way beyond the call of duty. I agree that 50 teachers would have made some difference. However, the union did not make the decision about which you speak. It was made at the Board of Education and I respect their right to make the tough decisions they often must make.
Regarding the School Board Nominating Commission, I was there and I testified in full support of the Board member you noted. I spoke for myself and for many other teachers who firmly believe that this Board of Education member does put our young people and our teachers first. You were wrong when you stated that the 800 teachers present on Wednesday were protesting against this Board member or any other Board member. The teachers, the Board of Education, the Superintendent, the parents and students are all on the same side. There was no protest against anyone. There was an attempt by one part of the village to communicate some thoughts and ideas and concerns to another part of the village.
There were no PR stunts as you said. There were teachers and union officials and concerned citizens. These folks should have and could have been at home with their families. However, they chose to take more time out of their long day to advocate for themselves and more importantly for the students of this county.
There have been and still are some differences of opinion between teachers and the Board of Education concerning a new contract. The union has been working with teachers representatives and BOE officials to come to a negotiated agreement at the table. The process has not been easy and I understand that the last bargaining session was more than 11 hours long.
Mr. Doherty, I respect your opinion and your right to express it. However, I truly believe that the parents and students we serve on a daily basis will be better served if the entire village continues to get together in a respectful manner in order to exchange ideas and concerns and ultimately to make some tough decisions based upon what is in the best interests of our students.
I can assure you that nobody will have to ask where the union will be. TAAAC will be standing as always next to the Anne Arundel County educators they represent working hard to make a very good educational system a better one. With the cooperation of all parts of the village, this will happen, inspite of the current tough economic times.

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R. Silkworth - Millersville, MD - Karma: Terrible

Where was the union? - 2009-03-19 12:15:33

Where was the teachers union when the Board of Ed took 50 classroom teacher jobs the County Council had allocated and used the money instead to pay for the administrative/bureaucratic raises? Seems like 50 teachers would have been dues paying members, and 50 teachers may have made a dent in class sizes, too. Where was the teachers union when the School Board Nominating Commission made its recommendations for new board members? They were part of the back room deals that were cut to reappoint one of THE SAME BOARD MEMBERS WHO THEY ARE NOW PROTESTING AGAINST. They could have taken a stand for positive change in the school system. Instead, union leaders made their deals to preserve the status quo, therefore, the union is a bit hypocritical to be pulling PR stunts now, when they could have been advocating for needed change. I've never heard of a labor union that didn't have concerns when potential dues paying positions were cut. Samuel Gompers must be rolling in his grave when he looks at the leadership of the County's teachers union and their recent actions....or shall we say, inaction.

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Chris Doherty - Harwood, MD - Karma: Excellent