The Howard County school system has reached tentative agreements with the four unions representing the majority of its 9,000 employees.
The school system and the four unions - American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Howard County Administrators Association and the Howard County Education Association, which has units for educational support professionals and teachers - have been negotiating since November.
"I feel that it was a very collaborative process on both sides," said Sue Mascaro, director of staff relations and operations for the school system, who announced the tentative agreements at Thursday's school board meeting. "It involved quite a few meetings. I'm confident that the tentative agreements will serve both our employees and our students."
The proposed contracts are a month away from being approved, according to Ann DeLacy, president of the Howard County Education Association, the union representing 5,500 employees.
"It has to be passed by our board of directors, reps, and members," said DeLacy, who noted that the board of directors meet March 6, and the school representatives meet March 13.
The Howard County Administrators Association has sent the proposed contract to its members for approval, according to Mascaro. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was scheduled to meet this weekend.
DeLacy and Mascaro said they could not discuss any details of the contract.
"It's embargoed, I cannot say a word," DeLacy said. "Until we release it to our board, we cannot talk about it."
Mascaro said the new contracts will help with hiring. Howard County ranks fourth in the state for starting teacher salaries.
"I am certain that the negotiations will assist the school system as we recruit highly qualified staff," Mascaro said.
The contract includes more than salaries, according to DeLacy.
"It is working conditions, academic freedom, evaluations, transfers, duties, protection, reimbursements for taking classes, mileage, sick leave, bereavement leave," she said. "There is so much stuff in our contract. There are all types of things that cost money that are embedded in the language."
Survey results are in
A majority of Howard County teachers have faith in the leadership exhibited by Superintendent Sydney L. Cousin, while many say that they have been harassed by parents, according to a job satisfaction survey conducted by the system's largest teachers union.
