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Welcome to TABCO

Unity...Now More Than Ever!

AIM progress reports are discontinued indefinitely and there seems to be no reason in the future for them to ever become mandatory.

 Teachers who choose to use them “voluntarily” can, and if you don’t want to use them you can throw them away.

I will provide more details in a follow up email, but it’s late and I head back down to Annapolis in the morning. So here are the cliff notes. The meeting was held with the Senators and Delegates, in the Joint Hearing Room, asking Dr. Hairston, Board of Education President, Joanne Murphy, and VP, Ed Parker questions. Most of the dialog was about AIM progress reports, but other topics were brought forward. Topics included:

• Cuts to mentors and resource teachers- they were not pleased and questioned this decision.
• Proposed cuts, then a retraction, to cutting positions in the magnet programs.
• Lack of communication with teachers, parents, elected officials, media, etc.
• Ethics and copyright issues surrounding AIM.
• If Dr. Hairston didn’t make the decision to make them mandatory, then who did? Never answered.
• Did the Board of Ed ever take a position? No- it’s a tool not a program or curriculum.
• Why are they not including TABCO President as part of Task Force? They should! It will be considered.
• The Superintendent and Board should work with stakeholder groups and communicate so we never have an issue like this again.

I remind you that the questioning and answering went on for two hours. I will provide more details, but I’ll let you know now at one point I had to stop writing because of frustration and lack of additional paper. Others in attendance will probably share some of their thoughts too, including a couple reporters including the Baltimore Sun. Thank you to the teachers, parents, and community members who were in the audience.

I have to say, you all did a great job in bringing AIM progress reports and the other issues negatively impacting our school system to the forefront. You should be proud of the grassroots effort done by teachers, administrators, parents, and community groups. This became a TABCO issue when it was brought forth from strong members advocating for teachers and students. We worked side-by-side and organized to help make a difference. That’s what it’s all about. We really did help students and the school system by stopping this initiative, and showed the power of joining together and taking a stand for what is right.

You did an awesome job of contacting the elected officials and they really did step up to the plate on this issue. I will provide you a list of those in attendance, and it was many. I will be writing them thank you letters and once you have the list, I hope you will too. They asked questions and really kept asking questions until they heard clear answers on the issues.  

Thank you for all you do. We still have work to do on behalf of our mentors and resource teachers, and on various pieces of legislation. I am confident that this strong, vocal organization of professional educators will still work collectively to continue to advocate for ourselves and our students.

I’m proud to represent you and serve as your president. I’m also proud of the strong partnerships we have with parents, elected officials, and others who helped us along the way. Awesome job everyone!

Baltimore County Council Members Olszewski, Sr., Moxley, McIntyre, Oliver, Kamenentz and Bartenfelder have written letters of support regarding teachers feelings about AIM.

Blog on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=search&gid=234345346734.

Meeting Notes: Discussion of AIM (Articulated Instruction Module) Program submitted by Jean Suda, PTSA member Dulaney High School.

Could it Happen to Me?  What If...

* A child was injured on the playground while you were covering a class?
* Your paycheck was shorted for no apparent reason?
* You are the object of a written complaint by a parent?
* You receive an unsatisfactory observation?
* You are reprimanded for something posted on "My Space."

Each of the above situations actually took place. We could have written 50 more examples. In each case, the Association provided help for the members involved and brought about a successful resolution of the problem. Isn't it time you joined TABCO?

TABCO Victories - 5 Arbitrations won to date:

 Brief descriptions of arbitration rulings, not actual wording.

#1- Western School of Technology- (A year ago) TABCO’s position was upheld that because of bus schedules, even at a magnet school, the work day for teachers cannot be extended beyond the 7 hour work day. Back pay was awarded.

#2- Lansdowne HS- TABCO’s position was upheld that parent conference nights can be scheduled, but teacher participation is not mandatory. Parent conferences shall be set through mutual agreement between the teacher and the parent. Back pay was awarded to those who had been required to stay.

#3- Stoneleigh ES- TABCO’s position was upheld that the Faculty Council and the administration shall mutually determine the number, type, and time (entire time) of non-emergency faculty meetings, and have mutual involvement in the development of the agenda.

#4- Sick Leave Bank- TABCO’s position was upheld that the TABCO Sick Leave Bank Committee decides approval and denial of sick leave bank claims after review. BCPS had given out over 250 days of bank days even after the bank denied payment. Repayment of the days given must be reimbursed to the bank by BCPS.

#5- Ridge Ruxton/White Oak School- TABCO’s position was upheld that the 7 hour work day cannot be extended when administrators assign or request teachers to supervise students when buses are late or students are not picked up by the end of the 7 hour day. That includes no assigned bus duty before the 7 hour day as well. We are working on appropriate back pay and other matters to finalize the case.

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Go to www.neamb.com and put “1-800-FLOWERS.COM” in the search box in the upper right corner of the page. Register or Sign In to get the special NEA member promo code to order online or by phone. Sales and Service Specialists are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.NEA members enjoy a 20% savings every day on flowers, plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections and plush stuffed animals from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM.

* Exclusive of applicable service and shipping charges and taxes. Items may vary and are subject to availability, delivery rules, and times. Items are available online and by phone. Offers cannot be combined, are not available on all products, and are subject to restrictions, limitations, and blackout periods. Prices and charges are subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited.

     MSEA is working hard to pass the Fairness in Negotiations Act

This bill establishes a process for a neutral third party to decide labor disputes between local public school employer and local public school employees within a specific time frame with a decision that is binding on both parties. What can you do? Write or call your state representatives and ask them to support this important bill.

Salary Increases Negotiated

After many months of negotiations, TABCO was able to obtain the attached increases. Start by looking at the first salary schedule. Then look at the January 2010 increases on the second salary schedule. Several examples of how to calculate your salary can be found on the calculation document. 

Health Benefits Update - No Changes

• Employer/employee premium cost splits remain the same 90/10. Employees are paying 10% of the total health care premium and BCPS is paying 90%. All plan items i.e. copays, prescriptions, covered items, remain the same.
• Retiree health benefits cost levels are as follows: retiree Pre-65: 10-19 years of service in BCPS employee pays 50%; 20-29 years of service in BCPS employee pays 25%; 30 or more years of service in BCPS employee pays 10%. NOTE: Service as BCPS employee only for retiree health benefit calculation.
• As a result of negotiations, BCPS provides same sex and opposite sex domestic partner benefits. Needed documentation and paperwork along with all health benefit information is located at www.bcps.org click on “offices,” then “benefits.”
• TABCO members can contact their TABCO UniServ Director if assistance is needed.

Teacher Pensions Too High?

Here’s the issue: Wednesday’s Baltimore Sun had an article (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bal-md.pensions21oct21,0,3665833.story)  about a 54-year-old, five-term (20 year) Baltimore County Councilman qualifying for a $54,000 annual pension benefit. WBAL radio has used it as a rallying point to rail against all public sector pensions.

Here’s the question: 

This caused me to think…just what would a school employee need to do to earn such a pension benefit?

Here’s the math: The current pension system credits each year since July 1998 at 1.8 percent (the multiplier) times average three year salary. Prior years use a 1.2 percent multiplier.

 Step 30 of the 2008-09 TABCO Masters degree scale is $72,758. This would approximate a 3-year average for someone retiring at the end of the 2009-10 school year. This member would get 21.6 percent (12 years times 1.8 percent) of $72,758, or a $15,716 benefit, for the years since 1998. That leaves them $38,284 short of the $54,000 total. $38,284 is 52.6 percent of $72,758. Since the pre-1998 multiplier is 1.2 percent, 52.6 divided by 1.2 is about 44 years. 44 pre-1998 years plus 12 post-1998 years combine to generate a $54,000 pension.

Here’s the conclusion: With 56 years of school employment a TABCO member could match the $54,000 pension. Of course, someone who worked 56 years would be starting their annuity around the age of 77, not 54. Know the facts! The pension benefits of school employees are not excessive. Anyone who claims they are hasn't done the math.

 By David Helfman, Executive Director MSEA

 Teacher Union Myths Revealed http://www.counterpunch.org/macaray03202009.html

A great gift idea... TABCO sells movie  tickets for the reduced rate of $6.00. The tickets are good at all AMC Theaters with no expiration date (some restrictions may apply).

Additional resources and items of interest:

March 2010 Transfer Guidelines/How To
Extra Duties Activities Clarification
How to Read Your Paycheck or visit http://www.bcps.org/offices/payroll/      
Review your teaching certificate!
tate Pension Sessions
NEW Homebuyers Incentives
NEA Dental & Vision Program
TABCO Dues for 2009 tax purposes
Scholarships: Types and Amounts, Detailed Information, Application
Auto & Homeowners Insurance for TABCO Members Only

 

 

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Key to Abbreviations Used on this Website

AR = Association Representative for TABCO
BCPS = Baltimore County Public Schools
BOD = TABCO Board of Directors
BOE = BCPS Board of Education
MSEA = Maryland State Education Association
NEA = National Education Association
RA = TABCO Representative Assembly
TABCO = Teachers Association of Baltimore County
TSLB = TABCO Sick Leave Bank