So Far, South County Gets Five New Teachers Across Five Schools

The Anne Arundel County Council and the Board of Educationagreed to bring 100 new teachers into the system in the 2012-2013 school session. Only 42 of the 100 teachers have been added.

Adding teachers is an ongoing process and some schools won’t know about additional hires until just before school starts in August. Most teachers secure their jobs in spring or by the end of the June. As we close in on the start of school in late August, there are fewer unemployed teachers to choose from, so schools like to get word early.

County schools will add 100 new teachers in an effort to reduce class size.

The list at the bottom of this story was provided by schools spokesman Bob Mosier. It represents 42 new teaching positions across 36 schools countywide. Of those, five are allocated to schools in South County. Once schools get the nod to add personnel, principals can begin interviewing and making offers to qualified candidates.

There is some controversy surrounding the addition of 100—and possibly up to 120 teachers. Some teachers argue that instead of hiring that many new teachers, existing staff should be given the step increases that were agreed to during collective bargaining.

In 2009, a negotiated agreement between county schools and the teacher’s union (Teachers Association for Anne Arundel County, or TAAAC), gave teachers a one-third step increase in pay across three years—equal to one full step increase in pay by the third year. But each year, the County Executive and the County Council have not funded the increase. In July 2010, step increases were waived; in July 2011 they were again waived; and in late June 2012, the Board of Education did not include them in the 2012-2013 budget that goes into effect on July 1, 2012.

On their website, TAAAC says that the step increases should have been funded in full in 2012-2013 as a good faith effort since the two parties will return to the negotiating table in order to hammer out an agreement by June 30, 2013.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Maxwell is moving aggressively toward new hires, a move that has “insulted veteran teachers,” according to one teacher who asked to remain anonymous.

In South County, a total of five teachers have been added, one at each of the following schools:

• Deale
• Edgewater
• Lothian
• Shady Side
• Tracey’s

In the rest of the county, 36 teachers have been allocated, one each at the following schools; and two where indicated by (2):

• Benfield
• Broadneck
• Brock Bridge
• Brooklyn Park
• Cape St. Claire
• Crofton (2)
• Fort Smallwood (2)
• George Cromwell
• Glendale
• Hebron Harman
• High Point
• Hillsmere
• Hilltop
• Jacobsville
• Jones (2)
• Lake Shore
• Nantucket
• Pasadena (2)
• Pershing Hill
• Piney Orchard
• Quarterfield
• Richard Henry Lee
• Riviera Beach
• Seven Oaks
• Severn
• Severna Park
• Shipley’s Choice
• Solley
• Southgate (2)
• Tyler Heights
• Waugh Chapel