County Education Association

About 100 people from four unions let the Anne Arundel County Board of Education know last night that they were unhappy with the state of negotiations for new contracts.As far back as anyone can remember, this is the first time that the four unions have reached an impasse with the board."It doesn't make sense to me," said Thomas J. Paolino, president of the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County. "This is the time for the Board of Ed to agree, when there are no fiscal-type items."An arbitrator has been called in to help in negotiations between the Board of Education and TAAAC, the Secretaries and Aides Association of Anne Arundel County, the Association of Education Leaders and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

School Candidates: Improper Grilling?Reviewing the basis for endorsement of political candidates by the school unions provides a chilling example of why our educational system is in trouble. Are you a member of the Moral Majority, Christian Coalition or Church of the Open Door? These are some of the questions candidates were asked.Obviously, the leaders of the school unions are a "vocal minority" and not representative of the Carroll County teachers and school employees. The union mentality has reduced what used to be a dedicated and deservedly respected profession to a mere grunt, sweat-shop labor pool no different from the United Mine Workers and the United Auto Workers.

The union that represents 2,700 Howard County teachers, teacher aides, school administrators and secretaries voted last night to protest spending cuts by performing no work outside the regular school day from April 15 to April 19 and holding a rally April 18.Jim Swab, president of the Howard County Education Association, said members "will work the standard seven-hour-and-35-minute dayand take no work home."Teachers -- 2,200 of the association's members -- are allowed some planning time during the school day, but they say it is not enough and they must stay late or take work home.

The principal of Howard High School, which was recently added to a list of the county's struggling schools, is embroiled in a legal dispute stemming from criticism of her leadership and professional competence. Principal Mary J. Day says in court papers that she has endured "a long-term campaign of malicious, wrongful and/or illegal acts: including breach of contract, negligence, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy" from county and state education representatives and their unions.

The principal of Howard High School, which was recently added to a list of the county's struggling schools, is embroiled in a legal dispute stemming from criticism of her leadership and professional competence. Principal Mary J. Day says in court papers that she has endured "a long-term campaign of malicious, wrongful and/or illegal acts: including breach of contract, negligence, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy" from county and state education representatives and their unions.

West Friendship fire station gets EMTs from county The nationwide squeeze for paramedics has hit home in West Friendship, where the town's volunteer Fire Department recently requested that Howard County provide a full-time position to ensure around-the-clock coverage at the station. Chief Joseph A. Herr of Howard's Fire and Rescue Services said the department was responding to a request from the station because it has been unable to get its own paramedics "on a consistent basis." But Herr said that whenever the station needed a paramedic in the past, it received one from the department.

To comply with new accounting rules, Howard County's next executive must put aside $50 million for retiree health benefits - more money than the entire local budget grew this year. The county's total liability is estimated at $400 million and growing, County Council members learned last week. The choices - paying the bill or eliminating the benefits - appear stark, but county officials are gathering information on the issue, said Sharon Greisz, the county finance director. State officials face the same situation, and they are looking at an estimated $20 billion bill.

To comply with new accounting rules, Howard County's next executive must put aside $50 million for retiree health benefits - more money than the entire local budget grew this year. The county's total liability is estimated at $400 million and growing, County Council members learned last week. The choices - paying the bill or eliminating the benefits - appear stark, but county officials are gathering information on the issue, said Sharon Greisz, the county finance director. State officials face the same situation, and they are looking at an estimated $20 billion bill.