Howard County school employees could see an average 5 percent increase in their paychecks next year.
Administrators announced a tentative agreement with four bargaining units Tuesday when the School Board approved a $615.3 million operating budget for fiscal year 2008, an increase of about $33.7 million from Superintendent Sydney Cousin?s initial proposal in January.
“I am confident that these negotiations will help us not only recruit and retain a qualified staff but also maintain a supportive work environment for existing employees,” said Susan Mascaro, Howard County schools? chief negotiator.
The total amount of the raises adds about $29.5 million to the board?s budget request. The specific increases for each bargaining unit were not revealed. Only the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents food service workers, custodians, bus drivers and others, approved the contract.
“The contract was overwhelming accepted ? our group was fine with the negotiated salaries,” said George Gisin, senior staff representative for AFSCME Council 67, which represents Howard County.
Increases are needed to keep high-quality teachers in an increasingly expensive county, said Ann DeLacy, president of the Howard County Education Association, which represents teachers and support personnel.
Starting salary for teachers in Howard County ranked fourth in the state last year.
One of the largest changes to the operating budget is the addition of 30 technology support teachers, adding to the 23 Cousin initially proposed. The support teachers will train teachers to integrate technology in classrooms.
SALARIES AT A GLANCE
Averages for the 2005-06 school year
Anne Arundel
» First-year teacher: $39,041
» Five years of experience: $45,694
Carroll
» First-year teacher: $ 36,355
» Five years of experience: $41,183
Baltimore City
» First-year teacher: $41,226
» Five years of experience: $43,703
Baltimore County
» First-year teacher: $40,000
» Five years of experience: $42,874
Harford
» First-year teacher: $38,964
Five years of experience: 43,852
Howard
» First-year teacher: First six months, $41,758; second half, $42,176
» Five years of experience: First six months, $46,332; second half, $46,796
* In the Baltimore region, a teacher with five years of experience earns about $43,000.
Source: Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties public school systems
