MCEA, SEIU & MCAASP File Freedom of Information Request
Unions Call For Release of County Tax Revenue Numbers
May 8, 2008
The three MCPS employee unions today filed a formal Freedom of Information Request with the county government, calling for the release of this year's numbers on income tax revenue. In their joint letter calling for release of the data, the unions said “we are mindful of the fact that last spring the County Council was presented with a revenue forecast that was inadequate to fund the county’s schools, public safety and health and human services; dictating unfortunate budget cuts. Yet several months later the county auditor…disclosed that the County received $186 million dollars more in income tax revenues above what had been budgeted”. The unions went on to say that given the pending budget decisions by the County Council, that the data on income tax receipts to date this year should be released immediately. Click here to read the joint union press release and the FOIA request letter.
MCEA Members Star in National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 5, 2008
May 5th through 9th is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Congratulations to Denise Fitzgibbons, Renee Pindell, Mary Anne Mount and David Pelzer of Stedwick Elementary School, who are starring in a national public service announcement produced by NEA and the National PTA. Click here to view the video clip, and for links to other NEA videos available on YouTube.
Nominations Open Now for Councils on Teaching and Learning!
April 22, 2008
The Councils on Teaching and Learning are currently accepting nominations for all positions on the Elementary, Middle, and High School Councils. Click here for a copy of the Nomination Brochure and Form.
Nominations will take place between April 22, 2008 and May 9, 2008. The election will take place between May 22, 2008 and June 4, 2008. Election results will be posted on May 5, 2008 on this website and on the MCEA Forum in MCPS Outlook.
The Councils on Teaching and Learning are representative Professional Learning Communities of teachers, professional development staff, and curriculum staff devoted to improving student learning through stakeholder collaboration, communication, and feedback using well-designed, well-defined, and well-deployed processes. Click here to view the complete Charge Statement describing the role and responsibilities of the Councils.
The Councils meet monthly either during the day of after school. MCEA leave is provided. Council members represent the interests of their colleagues across the county, not just their personal views. Members communicate regularly with their grade-level or subject-area colleagues to keep them informed and solicit their input. The CTLs have had a major role in:
- Slowing down the standards-based grading program in the elementary schools based on feedback from the pilot schools;
- Providing a 3-week window for recording secondary grades in the Pinnacle program;
- Holding a comprehensive Math Forum this past November that has resulted in several recommendations for substantive upgrades to current practices and processes and in developing an Action Plan to ensure the recommendations are carried out;
For more information on how you, a school-based MCEA unit member, can become a part of this unique collaborative process, contact any of the following people:
Mary Pat Spon, Elementary Council mpspon@mcea.nea.org
Kim-Shawn Stansbury, Middle School Council kstansbury@mcea.nea.org
Elaine Burks, High School Council eburks@mcea.nea.org
MCEA Reports 31% of Teachers Now Live Outside Montgomery County
April 9, 2008
In budget testimony before the County Council today, MCEA President Bonnie Cullison announced that more than 3,780 teachers now live outside the county – an increase of almost 800 in just the last six years. “The lack of affordable housing means that teachers are not available after school to meet with students and parents” she said, “and that teachers are particularly hard hit by the sky-rocketing cost of gasoline”. Cullison also pointed out that more than 35% of new teachers leave MCPS within the first five years. In its testimony, MCEA called on the Council to fund the negotiated pay raise, and to reduce the proposed budget cut to MCPS. Click here to read the full text of MCEA’s budget testimony.
MCEA Salary Study Shows MCPS Salaries Lagging
March 28, 2008
A new study released today by MCEA, Breaking the Salary Myth, compares teacher salaries in Montgomery County to those in the metropolitan Washington suburban school districts along with comparable suburban school districts throughout the Washington/New York corridor. The conclusion? Starting teacher salaries in MCPS are comparable to others in the metropolitan area, and lag behind salaries offered in leading suburban districts throughout the region.
MCEA Releases Statement on Proposed County Budget
March 18, 2008
Today MCEA released a public statement on the County FY09 Operating Budget proposed yesterday by County Executive Ike Leggett. In its statement, MCEA commended the County Executive for his work in narrowing the budget gap, and pledged to work with the County Council to avoid damaging cuts to the school system’s budget. MCEA believes there are several areas in the budget that, with work, can potentially save millions of dollars to help avoid damaging cuts to county and school services. Click here to read MCEA’s Statement on Release of the County Executive’s FY09 Recommended Operating Budget.
MCEA Calls for Greater Flexibility in Middle School Reform
January 16, 2008
Tonight, MCEA President Bonnie Cullison testified before the Board of Education on the Superintendent’s Recommended Operating Budget for FY08. Ms. Cullison expressed support for the proposed budget, and for its recognition that the key to student success is a highly trained, highly motivated, and well supported teaching workforce. Ms. Cullison also praised the recommendation to continue – and expand – the Middle School Magnet Consortium. She called on MCPS to allow other schools moving into “middle school reform” to choose the Consortium model if they believe it better fits their local needs. Click here to read a full copy of MCEA’s testimony.
Click here to read the January 2008 MCPS Update on the Evaluation of the Middle School Magnet Consortium, which includes detailed data on the improving student test scores in MSMC schools.
Legislative Breakfast Brings Together Educators and Elected Officials
January 8, 2008
MCEA's Annual Legislative Breakfast was held on Saturday, January 5 at the MCEA Conference Center. This event is held yearly to provide MCEA members and elected officials an opportunity to talk about the challenges facing educators today. There were 30 county and state politicians more than 100 MCEA members present. Attendees were seated according to their legislative district to provide time for dialogue. MCEA President Bonnie Cullison's presentation explained the union legislative priorities: ensuring adequate funding for education, improving the state assessment system, and establishing an independent state labor board for public school employees. County Executive Ike Leggett also spoke about the needs of the county. Click here for more pictures of the Legislative Breakfast.
SPARKS – Building the Next Generation of Teacher Leaders
December 8, 2007
Participants: 3rd row: Mathew Wells, Jennifer Norris, Mario de La Barrera. 2nd row: Noel Bingham, Amanda Froom, Amy Rakowiecki, Jennifer Alvarez. 1st row: Kelly Gray, Ashley Thornton, Elynn Lewis, Beth Blacklow, Tara Besser, Olga Shapiro, Alana Veneziano, and Kimberly Williams.
SPARKS is a new MCEA leadership development program for members with less than six years of educator experience. The purpose behind it is to make positive connections with newer members, provide a network opportunity, and provide information on desired topics chosen by the participants. The program was developed in 1998 and originated at the Washington Education Association in Washington State. This event was sponsored by the MCEA Membership Committee. There were 15 participants at the first MCEA SPARKS retreat December 7-8. A second retreat is being planned for the spring. (Click here for more details.)
MCEA Members Leading the Nation in National Certification
December 3, 2007
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced today that Montgomery County ranks among the top 20 school districts in the nation in both the number of new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) and in the cumulative number of NBCTs. 75 more MCEA members achieved national certification this past year, bringing the total to 374. MCEA’s Center for Teacher Leadership, in co-operation with MCPS and George Washington University, runs one of the most ambitious NBPTS candidate support programs in the nation: an initiative that has won recognition from the National Board itself. Through candidate support sessions, candidate mentors, GWU graduate credit, and – new this year – support for prospective candidates pursuing the “Take One” process, candidates supported by MCEA and MCPS achieve national board certification at a rate much higher than the national average.
NEA Seeks Volunteers to Assist at Summer 2008 Convention in DC
November 30, 2007
The NEA convention is coming to Washington, D.C. next summer and volunteers are needed to work between June 30 and July 6. Volunteers receive $40 for transportation each day worked, and lunch or dinner is provided.
Interested? Download the volunteer form and job descriptions.
For more information, MCEA members can also contact LeeAnn Kaye at 301-598-5480 or lakayeneaconvention@comcast.net.
If you've never been to an NEA convention, this is a great opportunity. You need not work every day. But whether you work one day or all six, it will be a wonderful chance to see NEA at work.
Governor Thanks MCEA for Support on Tax Reform
November 15, 2007
MCEA members and leaders joined hundreds of progressive activists from across the state at the Progressive Maryland Annual Gala last night in Annapolis. Honorees included NEA President Reg Weaver, Governor Martin O’Malley, and Montgomery County (District 20) Delegate Tom Hucker. Following his speech, Governor O’Malley came over to the MCEA table to speak with MCEA President Bonnie Cullison to thank her for MCEA’s support for passage of his proposed revenue package. MCEA members Janene Palumbo (South Lake ES) and Lauri Friedman (Seneca Valley HS) got a chance to meet and speak with NEA President Reg Weaver. MCEA was a founding member and remains an organization affiliate of Progressive Maryland. For more information about PM, go to www.progressivemaryland.org
Councils on Teaching and Learning Sponsor Math Forum
On Thursday, November 15, 2007, the MCEA/MCPS Councils on Teaching and Learning sponsored a Forum on K-12 Math Curriculum and Instruction. Invited attendees included 20 math teachers from middle and high school, 18 ES teachers who provide math instruction, and staff from the Office of School Performance (OSP), the Office of Organizational Development (OOD), and the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs (OCIP). MCEA president Bonnie Cullison provided opening remarks along with Associate Superintendent Erick Lang and Associate Superintendent Steve Bedford.
K-12 mathematics
curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development in MCPS has been a major issue of concern/debate for MCEA. The Councils on Teaching and Learning have had concerns raised about pacing (acceleration); sequencing; assessments; assessment windows; reassessment; curriculum alignment with MSAs, HSAs, SATs, etc.; spiraling structure; defining successful completion of a course; interventions and supports; and, best practices. Teachers concerns reported to CTL members include that: students cry when given ‘challenge’ questions; students come having not mastered general number sense; assessments do not correspond with the State Voluntary Curriculum; and students skipping grades in math showing ‘holes’ in their learning, among others.
The purpose of the Forum was to have participants provide as much detail about specific challenges as possible; and to gather potential solutions to address the challenges. The Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs provided a history of math curriculum development in MCPS. Teachers were broken in to grade-level groups and then vertical teams to discuss the challenges and to make recommendations on how to remedy/improve mathematics in MCPS.
The Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs is now processing the feedback from the Forum. All participants will get copies of the notes. And OCIP will be following up with the Councils on Teaching and Learning to work out implementation of specific changes to the math curriculum.
MCEA Lobbies for Full Funding for Education; Progressive Tax Reform
October 3, 2007
Today, MCEA President Bonnie Cullison issued a letter to all the members of the Montgomery County legislative delegation urging them to resist proposals being floated to cut back on promised state aid for public education. Ms. Cullison also urged our legislative representatives to support progressive tax reform. Click here to read the full text of MCEA’s letter. For a detailed presentation on the proposed tax reform package proposed by the Governor, you can review the Governor’s PowerPoint Presentation on the Budget. If you wish to communicate with the Governor's office or a member of the legislature, you can easily do so by going through the MSTA website at www.mstanea.org
Clean Energy Discounts Available to Educators
Living in Montgomery County
October 1, 2007
October is Energy Awareness Month! To recognize this event the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging those that live in the county to switch their electricity supply to a clean, renewable energy source such as wind or solar power.Specifically, residents of Montgomery County have an opportunity to purchase clean energy through the Clean Energy Rewards program. This unique program provides consumers with a reward (1 cent per kilowatt-hour) for clean energy used. This reward is delivered via a credit on the electricity bill and helps to reduce the added cost of clean energy by about 40%.
Click here for more information.
MCEA Calls for Funding to Ensure a Quality Teacher
in Every Classroom
September 2007
MCEA President, Bonnie Cullison, testified tonight before the Board of Education at their public hearing on the upcoming development of a proposed FY09 Operating Budget. In her testimony, Ms. Cullison stressed the important of attracting and retaining a high quality staff; and also committed to working with the administration to review all existing programs and staffing formulas to ensure that every dollar spent on public education in Montgomery County is effectively used. Click here to read the full text of her testimony.
Equity in Education Coalition of Montgomery County
MCEA is once again hosting a series of Best Practices and Policy breakfasts on the topic of Equity and Excellence. The series is sponsored by the Equity in Education Coalition of Montgomery County. The events are for all who are interested: policymakers, staff, educators and parents. While these events are free and open to the public, an RSVP is required. To learn more, click here.
NCLB Author Proposes Major Revision
August 2007
On Wednesday, House Education Chair George Miller (D-CA) released a discussion draft of the Title I section of ESEA. Miller is one of the key authors of the No Child Left Behind Act, and is leading the effort to revise it this fall - as it comes up fo renewal.
Miller's proposal appears to include a number of recommendations being advocated by teachers, including:
- use of multiple measures in determining AYP
- encouragement for states to use assessments beyond just reading and math (history, science, etc.)
- use of growth models that measure individual student progress, (instead of comparing this year's 5th grade to lsat year's 5th grade)
- greater flexibility in testing of English Language Learners and Special Education students
- differentiation between schools that miss AYP on just one or two measures, from those that are missing AYP on most measures, in order to focus school improvement and redesign efforts on the latter
- a pilot project to include locally developed assessment measures (as a supplement to standardized state tests)
- a recognition of the importance of graduation rates, and other measures other than standardized state tests, in determining school success
You can read an 11-page summary of his discussion draft or you can find more information, and the full proposed text, at his website (http://edworkforce.house.gov ) or click here for pdf.
NEA is reviewing the proposal, and will be submitting comments next week.
MCEA Welcomes Hundreds of New Educators
More than 30 active MCEA members helped to welcome the estimated 600 new educators coming to our schools this fall. In a series of workshops and presentations at Springbrook HS, Quince Orchard HS and Paint Branch HS, MCEA members facilitated informative workshops about MCEA, the contract, and the union’s role in school improvement. Overy 100 MCEA members attended a reception for new teachers at Dave and Buster’s.
MCEA Members Join Debates at NEA Convention
July 5, 2007
| More than 60 MCEA members were elected to represent their colleagues at this year’s NEA Convention in Philadelphia. Our delegates debated and voted on more than 90 “New Business Items”, including issues such as the re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act and NEA’s position on immigration policy and education. |