After lobbying by colleagues, teachers at two Silver Spring schools that will pilot an extended school year program will receive $3,000 in additional pay–$1,000 more than was originally agreed upon by the school system and teachers union.
In a letter sent to Montgomery County Education Association Members (MCEA) last week, union and school system officials announced the revised contracts for the roughly 125 teachers who will work an additional 30 days in the pilot program.
Classes at Roscoe Nix and Arcola elementary schools begin today and end June 11, 2020.
Other Montgomery County schools begin Sept. 3 and end June 15, 2020.
The goal of the longer school year is to prevent “summer learning loss” and improve performance among students from low-income families, according to school officials.
Teachers will receive a $3,000 stipend added to their July 19 paycheck, as well as additional salary. Originally, teachers were slated to receive a $2,000 stipend that wouldn’t have been paid until later in the summer.
Teachers will also receive two additional days of personal leave and a committee will be convened to “further address concerns” of teachers at Arcola and Roscoe Nix about the pilot program.
“Our agreements are intended to partially address issues raised by MCEA and SEIU regarding compensation and leave concerns, as well as other ongoing issues raised during the reopener that remain unresolved,” the letter reads. “Agreement on these revised MOU’s should be viewed as an incremental step and a shared commitment toward addressing larger systemic concerns that were raised by the unions and the school system.”
Arcola and Roscoe Nix staff began speaking out against their contracts in May after discovering principals were to receive a stipend more than four times that of which teachers were to receive.
Principals will be given a $9,000 stipend, while assistant principals will receive $4,000. Both principals and assistant principals are considered 12-month employees, so neither group will receive additional “regular pay.” Teachers are considered 10-month employees.
