Earlier this week, MCEA President Doug Prouty spoke to the Board of Education during Public Comment. Prouty presented to the Board more than 4,500 individual comments from MCEA members who had responded during September and October to MCEA's "Closest to the Work" pledge campaign. MCEA asked its members to respond to the simple question of what they believed those "closest to the work" should have more control over. The response was overwhelming. Clearly, MCEA had struck a cord. Educators throughout the system responded with thoughtful comments supporting the theme that those 'closest to the work':
1) are in the best position to make instructional decisions
2) need more time to plan and teach, and
3) should be trusted to meet high standards for all students.
Prouty's testimony also served as an opening of discussions with the Board of Education over MCEA's upcoming contract negotiations. He discussed both the factors framing our economic negotiations, as well as the critical need to address the time and workload issues confronting educators. The first formal negotiations session will be Monday November 2nd. The teams will be sending out regular bargaining updates, and there will be regular updates at MCEA's monthly Represenative Assembly. The negotiations are expected to take several months.
Prouty's comments to the Board of Education can be found by clicking on the headline above.
Tom Israel
MCEA Executive Director.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
National Health Insurance Reform: The Senate Finance Bill
For those MCEA members actively following the national health insurance reform debate, reprinted below is a pretty good summary of the bill that just passed the Senate Finance Committee. (This summary was prepared by United Health Care).
While the bill makes several important steps forward (like eliminating the ability of insurance companies to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, and expanding Medicaid eligibility), in the eyes of most folks in the labor movement, it is still flawed in several ways:
1. there is no requirement that employers provide coverage
2. there is no public option to provide consumers with increased choices (and to provide competition to the private insurance companies), and
3. there is a steep tax on higher-priced plans (MCPS' plans do not come close to tripping that tax, though how inflation is built into those thresholds for the future is significant).
MCEA - and NEA - has supported the advocacy and platform of Health Care for America Now. You can go to their website http://healthcareforamericanow.org/ for more information.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
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Senate Finance Committee Passes Health Reform Bill
With a vote of 14 to 9 on October 13th with all Democrats and Republican Senator Snowe (Maine) voting yes, the Senate Finance Committee passed their health reform bill, entitled “America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009,” after two weeks of consideration of amendments. The CBO estimates that this bill would cost $829 billion over ten years and would cover 29 million of the 54 million uninsured. To pay for the cost of the bill, the Committee places a 40% excise tax on “high value” employer-based plans valued at over $8,000 for individuals and $21,000 for families, reduces spending for the Medicare Advantage program, reduces provider payment rates under Medicare, places annual fees on pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and health insurers, and secures prescription drug rebates and discounts for Medicaid and Medicare Part D from pharmaceutical companies. The Finance Committee bill will now need to be reconciled with the bill passed by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee in July, before it is voted on by the full Senate. Details of the bill passed by the Finance Committee include:
· Coverage Mandates, Penalties, and Subsidies: In 2013, individuals would be required to have health insurance coverage through a “grandfathered plan,” a large employer group plan, a government program (Medicaid, Medicare, VA, and the like), or through an individual or small group plan that meets or exceeds minimum requirements (“Bronze” plan or “Young Invincible” plan for those under age 26), or pay a penalty. Waivers of the penalty would be allowed for Native Americans, those with religious objections, and individuals with a financial hardship defined as premiums that exceed 8% of income. The penalty would be effective in 2014 and phased-in over five years to a maximum of $1,500 per family. Individuals up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($88,000 for a family of four) would be eligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies. Employers would not be required to offer health insurance coverage, but those with 50 or more employees not offering coverage would be required to pay a fee for employees obtaining a subsidized plan through a state Exchange. Low wage employers (average salary less than $40,000) with 25 or fewer employees would be eligible for a 50% premium credit for two years.
· Benefit Plans: Individuals and small groups (defined as 1 to 50 employees, increasing to 100 by 2015, and potentially to all employers starting 2017) would have a choice of up to five plan types including “Bronze” (65% actuarial value), “Silver” (70% actuarial value), “Gold” (80% actuarial value), “Platinum” (90% actuarial value) and “Young Invincible” (50% actuarial value, available for adults under age 26 and for those for whom a premium for a higher value plan would exceed 8% of their income). Individuals between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level without access to employer-based coverage would be enrolled in a state-negotiated “Basic Plan” where available. Large employers would be required to eliminate cost-sharing for preventive care, limit out-of-pocket spending to HSA limits, and not impose “unreasonable” annual or lifetime benefit limits. Wellness incentives up to 30-50% of the cost of coverage would be allowed for employer-based plans.
· Insurance Market Rules: Insurance market reforms that require guarantee issue, prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions as well as premium variations based on health status, and also limit premium variation for tobacco use, age, family composition, and geography would apply to the individual and small group market (defined as 1 to 50 employees, increasing to 100 by 2015, and potentially to all employers starting 2017). States could pass legislation to form “Health Care Choice Compacts” to allow the purchase of individual insurance across state lines. “National Plans” would also be established with uniform benefit packages not subject to state benefit mandates, unless states elect to opt-out. States could seek a waiver from HHS to adopt their own rules in lieu of the new federal standards as long as the state standards would result in similar outcomes.
· Consumer Operated and Orientated Plans (CO-OPs): The Finance Committee bill creates new CO-OPs (defined as non-profit, member-governed health insurers) to provide coverage in the individual and small group markets. Federal funding ($6 billion) would be available from 2012 to 2015 for start-up loans and solvency grants for CO-OPs not already in existence. CO-OPs would be held to the same rules as other insurers.
· State Exchanges: The Senate Finance Committee bill establishes state-based “Exchanges” to help individuals and small groups (defined as 1 to 50 employees, increasing to 100 by 2015, and potentially to all employers starting 2017) compare plans, receive subsidies, and purchase coverage starting in 2013. States would continue to oversee health plans offered through these Exchanges.
· Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): By 2014, Medicaid eligibility would be expanded for all individuals, including childless adults, up to 133% of the federal poverty level and states would receive additional federal funding to cover these populations. States could transition these beneficiaries into the Exchange. States would be required to maintain existing Medicaid eligibility levels. States would also receive additional federal funding to cover kids under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but would be allowed to transition CHIP enrollees to the Exchange if they run out of their allotment of federal funds.
· Medicare: The Finance Committee bill would reform the payment structure for Medicare Advantage by reducing payments, creating a competitive bidding process, and providing financial incentives for care coordination programs and quality achievement. Pharmaceutical manufacturers would provide a 50% discount for brand name drugs purchased in the “donut hole” or coverage gap under Part D and the income subsidy exclusion for employers who maintain prescription drug plans for Part D eligible retirees would be eliminated. The Finance proposal would also link provider payments to quality outcomes, encourage the delivery of coordinated care, test and implement new provider payment methods, evaluate the accuracy and adequacy of provider payment levels and make appropriate adjustments, establish penalties to reduce hospital acquired infections and preventable readmissions, and increase payments for primary care physicians. Annual provider payment updates would be reduced for Medicare Part A and Part B and an independent Medicare Commission would be established to recommend policy changes to limit the rate of growth in Medicare spending.
While the bill makes several important steps forward (like eliminating the ability of insurance companies to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, and expanding Medicaid eligibility), in the eyes of most folks in the labor movement, it is still flawed in several ways:
1. there is no requirement that employers provide coverage
2. there is no public option to provide consumers with increased choices (and to provide competition to the private insurance companies), and
3. there is a steep tax on higher-priced plans (MCPS' plans do not come close to tripping that tax, though how inflation is built into those thresholds for the future is significant).
MCEA - and NEA - has supported the advocacy and platform of Health Care for America Now. You can go to their website http://healthcareforamericanow.org/ for more information.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
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Senate Finance Committee Passes Health Reform Bill
With a vote of 14 to 9 on October 13th with all Democrats and Republican Senator Snowe (Maine) voting yes, the Senate Finance Committee passed their health reform bill, entitled “America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009,” after two weeks of consideration of amendments. The CBO estimates that this bill would cost $829 billion over ten years and would cover 29 million of the 54 million uninsured. To pay for the cost of the bill, the Committee places a 40% excise tax on “high value” employer-based plans valued at over $8,000 for individuals and $21,000 for families, reduces spending for the Medicare Advantage program, reduces provider payment rates under Medicare, places annual fees on pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and health insurers, and secures prescription drug rebates and discounts for Medicaid and Medicare Part D from pharmaceutical companies. The Finance Committee bill will now need to be reconciled with the bill passed by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee in July, before it is voted on by the full Senate. Details of the bill passed by the Finance Committee include:
· Coverage Mandates, Penalties, and Subsidies: In 2013, individuals would be required to have health insurance coverage through a “grandfathered plan,” a large employer group plan, a government program (Medicaid, Medicare, VA, and the like), or through an individual or small group plan that meets or exceeds minimum requirements (“Bronze” plan or “Young Invincible” plan for those under age 26), or pay a penalty. Waivers of the penalty would be allowed for Native Americans, those with religious objections, and individuals with a financial hardship defined as premiums that exceed 8% of income. The penalty would be effective in 2014 and phased-in over five years to a maximum of $1,500 per family. Individuals up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($88,000 for a family of four) would be eligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies. Employers would not be required to offer health insurance coverage, but those with 50 or more employees not offering coverage would be required to pay a fee for employees obtaining a subsidized plan through a state Exchange. Low wage employers (average salary less than $40,000) with 25 or fewer employees would be eligible for a 50% premium credit for two years.
· Benefit Plans: Individuals and small groups (defined as 1 to 50 employees, increasing to 100 by 2015, and potentially to all employers starting 2017) would have a choice of up to five plan types including “Bronze” (65% actuarial value), “Silver” (70% actuarial value), “Gold” (80% actuarial value), “Platinum” (90% actuarial value) and “Young Invincible” (50% actuarial value, available for adults under age 26 and for those for whom a premium for a higher value plan would exceed 8% of their income). Individuals between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level without access to employer-based coverage would be enrolled in a state-negotiated “Basic Plan” where available. Large employers would be required to eliminate cost-sharing for preventive care, limit out-of-pocket spending to HSA limits, and not impose “unreasonable” annual or lifetime benefit limits. Wellness incentives up to 30-50% of the cost of coverage would be allowed for employer-based plans.
· Insurance Market Rules: Insurance market reforms that require guarantee issue, prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions as well as premium variations based on health status, and also limit premium variation for tobacco use, age, family composition, and geography would apply to the individual and small group market (defined as 1 to 50 employees, increasing to 100 by 2015, and potentially to all employers starting 2017). States could pass legislation to form “Health Care Choice Compacts” to allow the purchase of individual insurance across state lines. “National Plans” would also be established with uniform benefit packages not subject to state benefit mandates, unless states elect to opt-out. States could seek a waiver from HHS to adopt their own rules in lieu of the new federal standards as long as the state standards would result in similar outcomes.
· Consumer Operated and Orientated Plans (CO-OPs): The Finance Committee bill creates new CO-OPs (defined as non-profit, member-governed health insurers) to provide coverage in the individual and small group markets. Federal funding ($6 billion) would be available from 2012 to 2015 for start-up loans and solvency grants for CO-OPs not already in existence. CO-OPs would be held to the same rules as other insurers.
· State Exchanges: The Senate Finance Committee bill establishes state-based “Exchanges” to help individuals and small groups (defined as 1 to 50 employees, increasing to 100 by 2015, and potentially to all employers starting 2017) compare plans, receive subsidies, and purchase coverage starting in 2013. States would continue to oversee health plans offered through these Exchanges.
· Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): By 2014, Medicaid eligibility would be expanded for all individuals, including childless adults, up to 133% of the federal poverty level and states would receive additional federal funding to cover these populations. States could transition these beneficiaries into the Exchange. States would be required to maintain existing Medicaid eligibility levels. States would also receive additional federal funding to cover kids under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but would be allowed to transition CHIP enrollees to the Exchange if they run out of their allotment of federal funds.
· Medicare: The Finance Committee bill would reform the payment structure for Medicare Advantage by reducing payments, creating a competitive bidding process, and providing financial incentives for care coordination programs and quality achievement. Pharmaceutical manufacturers would provide a 50% discount for brand name drugs purchased in the “donut hole” or coverage gap under Part D and the income subsidy exclusion for employers who maintain prescription drug plans for Part D eligible retirees would be eliminated. The Finance proposal would also link provider payments to quality outcomes, encourage the delivery of coordinated care, test and implement new provider payment methods, evaluate the accuracy and adequacy of provider payment levels and make appropriate adjustments, establish penalties to reduce hospital acquired infections and preventable readmissions, and increase payments for primary care physicians. Annual provider payment updates would be reduced for Medicare Part A and Part B and an independent Medicare Commission would be established to recommend policy changes to limit the rate of growth in Medicare spending.
Monday, September 28, 2009
k-12 Math workgroup update
The K-12 Math workgroup is continuing its work. The timeline calls for continued meetings through the spring with preliminary recommendations to be issued in December and a preliminary comprehensive plan by the end of March. A part of this plan will be an ideal state for the math program involving curriculum, assessment, instructional practices, teacher preparation and development, and acceleration practices. These topics are the work of sub-groups. The sub-groups are conducting research involving academic articles, policy documents and the practices of school systems around the nation and the world. Three guest speakers have addressed the group- Dr. Skip Fennell from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Mr. Steven Leinwand of the American Institutes for Research, and Dr. James Hiebert from the Univeristy of Delaware. MCEA members sit on each of the sub-groups. The workgroup will continue to gather data from staff, students, and the community. You can access more info at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/workgroup.
What are your ideas to improve math in MCPS? Please post a comment below.
Doug Prouty, MCEA President
What are your ideas to improve math in MCPS? Please post a comment below.
Doug Prouty, MCEA President
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Update on Class Sizes
Earlier today, MCEA's President, Doug Prouty, and I met with the Chief Operating Officer, the Deputy Superintendent, and the leadership of the two other unions. (This meeting - the "Associations/Deputy/Chief Operating Officer Committee", or ADC, occurs every two weeks). One of the primary topics today was our ongoing monitoring of class sizes. Key data from the most recent reports are:
* The average elementary school class size is currently 20.8
* There has been an increase in the number of elementary combination classes
* the number of oversized middle school and high school classes is about identical to where we were this time last year (still too many - but due to improved scheduling, there has not been an increase in the number of oversized classes, even though more than 1,000 additional students have enrolled in MCPS than anticipated in the budget)
* MCEA has beealso been inquiring about oversized classes in Pre-K, where in recent years late enrollments during the school year have driven a number of classes above the recommended guidelines. The good news is that MCPS is now planning for the addition of three more Pre-K classes to accomodate students still enrolling, rather than driving existing class sizes up over the recommended maximums.
MCEA and MCPS continue to work on individual situations where there are significantly oversized classes to see what accomodations can be made.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
* The average elementary school class size is currently 20.8
* There has been an increase in the number of elementary combination classes
* the number of oversized middle school and high school classes is about identical to where we were this time last year (still too many - but due to improved scheduling, there has not been an increase in the number of oversized classes, even though more than 1,000 additional students have enrolled in MCPS than anticipated in the budget)
* MCEA has beealso been inquiring about oversized classes in Pre-K, where in recent years late enrollments during the school year have driven a number of classes above the recommended guidelines. The good news is that MCPS is now planning for the addition of three more Pre-K classes to accomodate students still enrolling, rather than driving existing class sizes up over the recommended maximums.
MCEA and MCPS continue to work on individual situations where there are significantly oversized classes to see what accomodations can be made.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
Monday, September 21, 2009
How the Health Insurance Crisis Impacts MCEA Members
For those who didn't see it, there was a well written article in Sunday's Washington Post entitled "You Have No Idea What Health Costs: If You Did, You Might Just Want Real Reform". The article did a good job of explaining the disconnect between what consumers pay and what health care actually costs. To read the article, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/19/AR2009091900112.html.
This issue has real and immediate meaning for MCEA members. This year, the cost of health insurance for MCPS employees increased by more than $20 million. Next year (2010-2011), those costs are projected to increase by an additional $20 million.
Almost all of the MCPS insurance plans are 'self-insured' - that means the insurance company just gets a flat administrative fee per plan participant. The increased costs are due strictly to the increasing volume and costs of health care services provided to MCPS employees.
As the Post article reports, nationally over the past decade health insurance premiums have increased by 138%, and the cost of the average family plan is projected to rise to more than $30,000 by 2019.
Even folks like us - who have health insurance through our employer - face a health insurance system that is unsustainable. Health care reform that meaningfully controls the escalating cost of health care, is in all our interests.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
This issue has real and immediate meaning for MCEA members. This year, the cost of health insurance for MCPS employees increased by more than $20 million. Next year (2010-2011), those costs are projected to increase by an additional $20 million.
Almost all of the MCPS insurance plans are 'self-insured' - that means the insurance company just gets a flat administrative fee per plan participant. The increased costs are due strictly to the increasing volume and costs of health care services provided to MCPS employees.
As the Post article reports, nationally over the past decade health insurance premiums have increased by 138%, and the cost of the average family plan is projected to rise to more than $30,000 by 2019.
Even folks like us - who have health insurance through our employer - face a health insurance system that is unsustainable. Health care reform that meaningfully controls the escalating cost of health care, is in all our interests.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Benefits Updates
Yesterday MCEA representatives participated in the bimonthly meeting of the Joint Employee Benefits Committee (JEBC). The Committee meets every two months to oversee implementation of MCPS benefit plans. Key updates included:
* HEALTH PLAN OPEN ENROLLMENT SEASON - is coming, October 26 - November 13. This is the time when you can switch between health plans, or change your coverage, to be effective January 1st. Because our health benefits are guaranteed by our contract, there are no changes in benefits. There will be three Health Information Fairs: 10/27 at Blake HS, 11/3 at CESC, and 11/10 at Clarksburg HS - all from 3 - 5pm.
* FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Members will also be able to enroll in the medical and child care FSA plans for 2010. Our contract continues to provide a $100 match for the first $100 you set aside in a medical FSA. Usage of the new FSA debit card continues to increase, making use of the accounts even easier. 90% of FSA debit card transactions are now verified automatically, reducing the need to keep receipts. Watch for more information. FSA accounts are an easy way to save real money on your health care and child care expenses.
* DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY AUDIT - Last year, MCPS required all health plan participants to verify eligibility of their dependents. While the paperwork was a hassle, the result was that 970 ineligible dependents were withdrawn or dropped from the plan, saving the Benefit Trust Fund an estimate $4.85 million. (The cost of the audit was about $300,000). That savings means that the premiums for health insurance for next year will not increase as fast as they would have otherwise.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director
* HEALTH PLAN OPEN ENROLLMENT SEASON - is coming, October 26 - November 13. This is the time when you can switch between health plans, or change your coverage, to be effective January 1st. Because our health benefits are guaranteed by our contract, there are no changes in benefits. There will be three Health Information Fairs: 10/27 at Blake HS, 11/3 at CESC, and 11/10 at Clarksburg HS - all from 3 - 5pm.
* FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Members will also be able to enroll in the medical and child care FSA plans for 2010. Our contract continues to provide a $100 match for the first $100 you set aside in a medical FSA. Usage of the new FSA debit card continues to increase, making use of the accounts even easier. 90% of FSA debit card transactions are now verified automatically, reducing the need to keep receipts. Watch for more information. FSA accounts are an easy way to save real money on your health care and child care expenses.
* DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY AUDIT - Last year, MCPS required all health plan participants to verify eligibility of their dependents. While the paperwork was a hassle, the result was that 970 ineligible dependents were withdrawn or dropped from the plan, saving the Benefit Trust Fund an estimate $4.85 million. (The cost of the audit was about $300,000). That savings means that the premiums for health insurance for next year will not increase as fast as they would have otherwise.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director
Thursday, August 27, 2009
MCEA Promotes School Leadership Team Training
Earlier this week, MCEA Board members met with members of the MCPS Executive Leadership Team. (This group - the "MCEA/MCPS Labor Management Collaboration Committee", or LMCC - meets once a month). One of the topics discussed was the School Leadership Teams Institute (SLTI).
The SLTI was created in 2004 as a joint project of MCEA, MCPS and MCAAP (the principals' union). Everyone recognized the importance of school leadership teams in determining both the work climate, and academic success of schools. The SLTI was jointly designed to help local school leadership teams increase their effectiveness. SLTI workshops focus on decision-making, problem-solving, and effective team operations and communcations.
Earlier this month, all principals received a memo about the SLTI offerings for the coming year. Schools have until 9/10 to share the information with their leadership teams and apply for the upcoming workshops.
MCEA strongly encourages schools to take advantage of the SLTI workshop opportunities. Click here to read the memo describing the upcoming workshops and how to apply.
http://www.mcea.nea.org/pdf/SchoolLeadershipTeamInstitute.pdf
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
The SLTI was created in 2004 as a joint project of MCEA, MCPS and MCAAP (the principals' union). Everyone recognized the importance of school leadership teams in determining both the work climate, and academic success of schools. The SLTI was jointly designed to help local school leadership teams increase their effectiveness. SLTI workshops focus on decision-making, problem-solving, and effective team operations and communcations.
Earlier this month, all principals received a memo about the SLTI offerings for the coming year. Schools have until 9/10 to share the information with their leadership teams and apply for the upcoming workshops.
MCEA strongly encourages schools to take advantage of the SLTI workshop opportunities. Click here to read the memo describing the upcoming workshops and how to apply.
http://www.mcea.nea.org/pdf/SchoolLeadershipTeamInstitute.pdf
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
Monday, August 24, 2009
FY11 Budget Process Begins
Last week (8/18) the process of developing the MCPS operating budget for next year (10-11) took another step forward. It seems like a long way away, but in fact MCPS departments have already begun working on their proposed budgets for the 2010-2011 school year.
As has been true in the last several years, the presidents and executive directors of the three MCPS unions (MCEA, SEIU and MCAAP) serve on the Superintendent's Budget Committee, along with two leaders from the PTA and the Deputy Superintendent (Frieda Lacey) the Chief Operating Officer (Larry Bowers). This group is charged with developing a proposed operating budget which the Superintendent then reviews and submits to the Board of Education. Very few school districts involve the unions (or the PTA) in this process.
Unfortunately, the continuing economic recession means we are likely to face additional budget reductions. Between now and late November, every department in MCPS will submit a proposed budget - including proposed cuts. All offices have been directed to identify 5% budget cuts. All school based budgets are to identify 2% reductions. The Budget Committee will review all the proposed cuts - and expenditures - and will eventually agree on a package to recommend to the Superintendent.
This is not an easy process. No one involved wants to see budget cuts that hurt staff or students. Our challenge is to identify ways to save money that do the least damage.
MCEA encourages our members to submit their ideas. How can we reduce spending in MCPS with minimum impact on staff and students? Submit your ideas in comments to this posting. If we are to protect those things that matter most, we've got to identify how to reduce costs in other ways.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
As has been true in the last several years, the presidents and executive directors of the three MCPS unions (MCEA, SEIU and MCAAP) serve on the Superintendent's Budget Committee, along with two leaders from the PTA and the Deputy Superintendent (Frieda Lacey) the Chief Operating Officer (Larry Bowers). This group is charged with developing a proposed operating budget which the Superintendent then reviews and submits to the Board of Education. Very few school districts involve the unions (or the PTA) in this process.
Unfortunately, the continuing economic recession means we are likely to face additional budget reductions. Between now and late November, every department in MCPS will submit a proposed budget - including proposed cuts. All offices have been directed to identify 5% budget cuts. All school based budgets are to identify 2% reductions. The Budget Committee will review all the proposed cuts - and expenditures - and will eventually agree on a package to recommend to the Superintendent.
This is not an easy process. No one involved wants to see budget cuts that hurt staff or students. Our challenge is to identify ways to save money that do the least damage.
MCEA encourages our members to submit their ideas. How can we reduce spending in MCPS with minimum impact on staff and students? Submit your ideas in comments to this posting. If we are to protect those things that matter most, we've got to identify how to reduce costs in other ways.
Tom Israel, MCEA Executive Director.
Time and Workload workgroup
The MCEA/MCPS joint Time and Workload workgroup met again last Tuesday, August 18th. We revised the interests we had generated previously and planned our next three meetings. T he bulk of that work will be to review the options we have received from a number of sources, including the CTL's, the RA, and the Discussion Room. We will continue to generate options, which will result in a set of recommendations to the Bargaining Team. Please post comments below with your ideas on tasks, duties, and responsibilities that do not contribute to the instructional program.
Doug Prouty
MCEA President
Doug Prouty
MCEA President
Welcome to the MCEA leadership blog
Welcome to the new MCEA leadership blog. The officers and executive director of MCEA will use this blog to update members on our work and raise important issues in public education. We hope that this blog will help to start thoughtful discussions that can happen on this blog and at the Representative Assembly, our monthly town hall meetings, and informally at schools and worksites around the county. The goal is to keep the blog current with new postings several times each week.
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