Worcester educators were ‘blindsided’ by vote, they say
Worcester County’s Board of Commissioners this week rejected a budget stipulation from the Board of Education that would have incrementally increased all teacher pay to comply with a state salary mandate.
In a 4-2 vote, the commissioners decided to slash by half proposed across-the-board teacher raises to reduce spending by $3.7 million. They also voted to strike restored cuts – a make-good from the school system’s prior year budget – totaling $1.94 million.
Maryland schools are required to increase starting teacher salaries to $60,000 by the start of the 2027 school year, part of the state’s landmark 2021 education reform package, called the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. So far, about 75% of school systems in Maryland are compliant, school officials said.
Starting teacher pay in Worcester County is $52,789, which school officials said is lowest in the state. To meet the $60,000 threshold, the school board had planned to split that cost over the next two budget cycles, giving teachers a $4,000 raise this year, and again next year.
Commissioner Jim Bunting, however, said he believed this amounted to too much money spent at once. His proposal was to constrict raises, so the starting salary would then be $54,789 – “and that doesn’t increase the teachers who are making more,” he said.
“After you do the $2,000 plus the steps, you’ve got very few people left making under $60,000. I’ve got every one of them,” said Bunting (District 6, Bishopville). “You will get there very quickly without doing $4,000 each year. You don’t need to do that. It’s just basic math and you will get there. It’s just, jumping in one year from $10 million, almost $11 million, it does not make sense to me.”
Bunting’s motion, seconded by Commissioner Caryn Abbott, was also supported by Commissioner Chip Bertino and Board President Ted Elder. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic was absent Tuesday.
The two commissioners who voted against the motion, Diana Purnell and Eric Fiori, spoke passionately about public schools and excoriated their peers who voted for a blanket pay cut.
“This is ridiculous,” said Fiori (District 3, Sinepuxent). “Our education system is our crown jewel – and I sat here and fought for the last couple years over showing how Board of Education is spending money. I fought as hard as the rest of you up here. They’ve done what we’ve asked them to do. It’s transparent.
“We have to meet the Blueprint mandate,” Fiori added.” If we keep cutting off our toes and keep going backwards, when we do have to meet these numbers – you think this increase is a lot? What about when we have to go $20 million, $30 million, because we’re so far behind?”
Cut the waste and give the teachers / baby sitters the money they deserve to teach and raise your kids since you all won’t do your jobs at home.
If WCPS doesn’t get what they DEMAND, the local fishwrap newspaper will call it “not fully funded”. Truth be told, their budget is NEVER LESS than what it was the year before!