By Adam Pagnucco.
The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), which represents MCPS teachers, has been unhappy about MCPS’s budgetary situation for months.
In March, when the county executive did not fully fund MCPS’s budget request, the teachers blasted the executive’s “punishing austerity” and vowed to fight for more money. (It didn’t help that MCEA regarded MCPS’s request as inadequate for starters.) The union then said that the county council should use corporate welfare money for schools instead. While the council didn’t do that, it did add almost $30 million to the executive’s MCPS budget – a partial win that did not mollify MCEA.
Now MCPS’s last-minute move towards potential layoffs has stirred the pot once again, eliciting certain anger from the teachers. But this time, the teachers have singled out MCPS Chief Operating Officer Brian Hull for criticism. Hull is a holdover from the tenure of now-dismissed Superintendent Monifa McKnight. Regarding him, the union wrote:
The situation makes clear that MCPS Chief Operating Officer Brian Hull has failed in his role as the leader in charge of finance and budgeting in MCPS. Rather than provide timely and detailed information, he has delayed and demurred when the union and council have made requests. President [Jennifer] Martin asked, “Why is it that Mr. Hull did not inform the County Council weeks ago of the impact the budget cuts they were considering? How is it that, after making repeated requests over many months, we’re still waiting for a detailed accounting of the items listed under contractual services?”
MCEA’s full statement is reprinted below.
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May 23, 2024
Contact: Kate Hardwicke, mceapress@mceanea.org
For Immediate Release
MCEA to MCPS: Honor Your Commitments to Staff, Students, and Families – No Layoffs! Honor New Hire Contracts!
Rockville, MD – On Tuesday evening, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) notified the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) that, due to $33M in cuts the County Council has made to the MCPS FY25 budget, the school system is preparing to eliminate more than 300 educators’ jobs. Such a move would result in dozens of lay-offs, hundreds of involuntary transfers, and the cancelation of contracts for new hires.
MCEA vigorously rejects this ill-conceived plan. Instead, they must thoroughly examine the $100 million budgeted for contractual services, a catch-all category that includes everything from special education to snow removal. Alternative cuts from contractual services would enable the system to avoid staffing cuts and layoffs that would increase already overwhelming workloads and negatively impact educational outcomes.
On Wednesday night, more than 1,000 MCEA members held a virtual meeting to learn about MCPS’s plan and how it would affect employment, teaching, and learning in the coming school year.
While the county executive and council failed to provide adequate funding, MCPS leadership must prioritize teaching and learning when considering cuts. We were shocked to learn of MCPS’s plan for layoffs and the cancellation of new contracts. This is just the latest example of the hard-hearted, disrespectful approach top leaders take with the dedicated frontline workers who give their all to students every day.
MCEA President Jennifer Martin said, “When faced with budget cuts, MCPS’s first move is to abandon loyal workers and the commitments the system has made to new hires. People’s lives are being upended because of executive leadership’s lack of competence and compassion. MCPS’s reputation as an employer will be shattered. And, most importantly, because of reductions in classroom staffing, students will suffer.”
The situation makes clear that MCPS Chief Operating Officer Brian Hull has failed in his role as the leader in charge of finance and budgeting in MCPS. Rather than provide timely and detailed information, he has delayed and demurred when the union and council have made requests. President Martin asked, “Why is it that Mr. Hull did not inform the County Council weeks ago of the impact the budget cuts they were considering? How is it that, after making repeated requests over many months, we’re still waiting for a detailed accounting of the items listed under contractual services?”
MCEA called on MCPS to meet with us to review line by line the contractual services proposed for FY25 to see where savings can be found. Cuts must not fall on the backs of educators and students in our classrooms.