Nearly a month after voting down the measure, the Baltimore County school board approved domestic-partner benefits for school employees Tuesday night.
The change of heart came during continued negotiations with five bargaining units representing teachers and other school workers, school board President Don Arnold said.
Arnold said the school board originally rejected the domestic-partner benefits because it thought it was unfair they would only apply to same-sex couples.
“The concern was being fair and equitable,” Arnold said.
But Teachers? Association of Baltimore County President Cheryl Bost said all five bargaining units always have supported benefits for both same- and opposite-sex couples.
The school board also wanted more information about how much domestic-partner benefits would cost and what other jurisdictions provided them, Arnold said.
“You never know what these things are going to [cost] until it affects you … but you [can] have a good idea,” he said.
Companies and jurisdictions that offer domestic-partner benefits usually see about a 1 to 2 percent increase in benefit enrollment, according to Equality Maryland spokesman Dan Furmansky.
Montgomery County, Howard County and Baltimore City provide domestic partner benefits, he said.
The union identified domestic-partner benefits as a priority for this year?s budget negotiations through surveys and focus groups with county teachers, Bost said.
“This is good news for all of our employees who … if they are in a committed relationship can now [support their partner],” Bost said.
The approved contract also gives an average 4 percent raise for school employees.
