Board of Education

[3CATSAILOR]

Thursday, April 24, 2025

I read the County Times today. Guy Leonard wrote a really good article which highlighted the St. Mary's County Board of Education's threat against the Commissioners if they don't get the funding that they are demanding as "fairness". It is true that the Public Schools are only in session for 180 days. and in between there they have Easter vacation, Snow days, a day off for the County Fair, Christmas vacation, Summer vacation, Half school days, Two hour early dismissals and who knows what else.

According to a Google Search:

The starting salary for a Deputy Sheriff in St. Mary's County, Maryland is $65,582.40 per year. There's also a $15,000 sign-on bonus paid in installments, plus potential lateral and employee referral bonuses, and formal education compensation.

In St. Mary's County, Maryland, the average teacher salary is around $56,839 per year, which is 7% above the national average. Starting teachers in the county receive a minimum salary of $60,500. Specific salaries can vary based on experience, education level, and other factors

A Police Officer who has a much more dangerious job and has to work 365 days a year instead of just 180 gets only $5000.00 more. A Police Officer is out in the elements with a significantly higher stressful job. In addition, a Police Officer has a higher potential of sucide than teachers. I know a guy that has done both. Before he went in to Law Enforcement he did some teaching. The difference between the two is Apples and Oranges.

I never thought I would ever hear of a person placing a threat against our County Commissioners if she didn't get her way. What have we come to? The representatrive of the County Board of Education sounded disrespectiveful to me. To be honest, I am disappointed with our BOE. I think better diplomacy should have been used.


Penrod believes the County has some extra money laying around to provide a more“fair budget” to fully fund the school system. She claims they aren't just asking for money, but demanding fairness.

Would she be referring to the same fairness that the Elderly Senior Citizens get with a Tax Bill that has 70% going to education when the Senior Citizen has NO children in the Public School System at all and never has at any time? Is she talking about that fairness?

 

[TPD]

SMC BOE needs to be DOGEd. I’m sure some waste fraud and abuse would be found on Moakley Street.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

Just a note, a Deputy Sheriff doesn't work 365 days a year. They do not, unless it's changed, qualify for overtime until they have 44 hours in the work week.

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest on this thread because it will be like talking to a wall but don't start out with an incorrect statement like the "work 365 days a year" bullshit.

 

[NOTSMC]

Just a note, a Deputy Sheriff doesn't work 365 days a year. They do not, unless it's changed, qualify for overtime until they have 44 hours in the work week.

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest on this thread because it will be like talking to a wall but don't start out with an incorrect statement like the "work 365 days a year" bullshit.

You're right they don't, that would be ridiculous BUT could it be that they would be "on call" if any emergency happened? That's kind of the way it works in the military. We weren't officially on the clock 24-7 but if something went down we were expected to report.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

Just a note, a Deputy Sheriff doesn't work 365 days a year. They do not, unless it's changed, qualify for overtime until they have 44 hours in the work week.

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest on this thread because it will be like talking to a wall but don't start out with an incorrect statement like the "work 365 days a year" bullshit.

Well they, Sheriff's deputies, do work 12 hour shifts five days in a 7 day period. Not in a row, and work every other weekend as well. And, if a court date falls on one of their days off they must appear and still work the next day if scheduled, so it could be a 6 day work week, or more.

A teacher's job is so far removed from that of a deputy, it's ludicrous to even try to compare. Teachers are not worth their asking, more money, for the product they produce.

I would say to that whiny union scum bitch, if those now labeled "educators" want more money, then they have to bring student proficiencies, from their current abysmal 40's and 50%, up to at least 95% before any more money is allocated.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...



It's the same 'ole same 'ole from their playbook. Nothing ever changes. It's the same in every public school system. Spending more does nothing.

 

[PrchJrkr]

You can't teach those who don't want to learn. They can't be caught "akkin wyte"...

 

[Merlin99]

For your consideration ...





Well they, Sheriff's deputies, do work 12 hour shifts five days in a 7 day period. Not in a row, and work every other weekend as well. And, if a court date falls on one of their days off they must appear and still work the next day if scheduled, so it could be a 6 day work week, or more.

A teacher's job is so far removed from that of a deputy, it's ludicrous to even try to compare. Teachers are not worth their asking, more money, for the product they produce.

I would say to that whiny union scum bitch, if those now labeled "educators" want more money, then they have to bring student proficiencies, from their current abysmal 40's and 50%, up to at least 95% before any more money is allocated.

You're assigning all of the blame to the one who has the least amount of control of the situation. If the teacher has a class of thirty with two troublemakers in the class how do you think the teachers time is going to be divided? Use some of that middle management that's making more than the teachers to remove the distractions and watch happens with the "product". Teachers these days are fighting battles that aren't in their job descriptions. They have violent, emotionally disturbed, entitled, distracted...students who know that no matter how little they do that their going on to the next grade anyways.

 

[OccamsRazor]

You're assigning all of the blame to the one who has the least amount of control of the situation. If the teacher has a class of thirty with two troublemakers in the class how do you think the teachers time is going to be divided? Use some of that middle management that's making more than the teachers to remove the distractions and watch happens with the "product". Teachers these days are fighting battles that aren't in their job descriptions. They have violent, emotionally disturbed, entitled, distracted...students who know that no matter how little they do that their going on to the next grade anyways.

Also add that teachers have ZERO power or control to implement ANY changes to make the environment better AND they have ZERO backup.

Also read that St. Mary's County is 4th out of 24 counties in MD for median income per household BUT, we are 20th out of 24 for per-student spending. Interesting...

 

[OccamsRazor]

Well they, Sheriff's deputies, do work 12 hour shifts five days in a 7 day period. Not in a row, and work every other weekend as well. And, if a court date falls on one of their days off they must appear and still work the next day if scheduled, so it could be a 6 day work week, or more.

What kind of court date are you referring to? I know for a FACT that they schedule traffic dates specifically catering to work days for the deputies. Certain deputies have traffic court on Tuesdays, others on Wednesdays, etc. Just depends on the issuing officer which date you would have to appear.

 

[vraiblonde]

See? And people don't think their BOE vote matters.....

I used to love teachers but the ones who have been in the news over the last decade have made me re-evaluate that. I know individual teachers who are terrific and I don't know how they stand working in that environment.

 

[vraiblonde]

Just a note, a Deputy Sheriff doesn't work 365 days a year. They do not, unless it's changed, qualify for overtime until they have 44 hours in the work week.

I'm not going to get into a pissing contest on this thread because it will be like talking to a wall but don't start out with an incorrect statement like the "work 365 days a year" bullshit.

Police work 365 days a year 24/7. An individual officer doesn't but as a collective they do. Teachers have set hours and days, with generous holidays and in-service, AND they get summers off.

When you tot up hours actually worked, teachers are getting an enormously better deal than cops.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

Also add that teachers have ZERO power or control to implement ANY changes to make the environment better AND they have ZERO backup.

Also read that St. Mary's County is 4th out of 24 counties in MD for median income per household BUT, we are 20th out of 24 for per-student spending. Interesting...

Are you saying teachers have zero culpability? That's BS. Ever been to a budget board meeting where they fill auditoriums wearing their silly red shirts and carrying signs, or standing along sides of roads picketing, demanding more of everything for themselves? If they put that same energy into effecting change they bitch about into changing the school atmosphere and behaviors, perhaps student performance would be better? When was the last time that teachers ever fought for the students? Never!

You're assigning all of the blame to the one who has the least amount of control of the situation. If the teacher has a class of thirty with two troublemakers in the class how do you think the teachers time is going to be divided? Use some of that middle management that's making more than the teachers to remove the distractions and watch happens with the "product". Teachers these days are fighting battles that aren't in their job descriptions. They have violent, emotionally disturbed, entitled, distracted...students who know that no matter how little they do that their going on to the next grade anyways.

Waaa. Waaa Waaa. More whitewashing BS. Teachers have the least amount of control? Hahahaha. Again. As a group, they have the power to effect the change they want, they just decide not to. Because it goes against their best interests. Teachers and their unions are making fools out of the public and simply taking advantage of problems they have allowed to fester. If a trade union knew of dangerous worksite conditions and the employer did nothing about it after being notified, they would organize a strike to make it be fixed.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

What kind of court date are you referring to? I know for a FACT that they schedule traffic dates specifically catering to work days for the deputies. Certain deputies have traffic court on Tuesdays, others on Wednesdays, etc. Just depends on the issuing officer which date you would have to appear.

Do you think that traffic court is the only time deputies are summoned to court? There are criminal cases, domestic abuse cases, juvenile cases, well check cases, etc.. Of which are not scheduled for a deputy's scheduled work day.

 

[OccamsRazor]

Are you saying teachers have zero culpability?

Actually... No. What I am saying is, in fact.. EXACTLY what I already said which is...

... teachers have ZERO power or control to implement ANY changes to make the environment better AND they have ZERO backup.

 

[OccamsRazor]

For your consideration ...





Do you think that traffic court is the only time deputies are summoned to court? There are criminal cases, domestic abuse cases, juvenile cases, well check cases, etc.. Of which are not scheduled for a deputy's scheduled work day.

Are you insinuating that these days are not counted towards their pay in some form or another? I would be inclined to think.. NOT. I highly doubt that these deputies are going to court and serving in an official capacity merely out of the kindness of their heart.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

Actually... No. What I am saying is, in fact.. EXACTLY what I already said which is...

Also add that teachers have ZERO power or control to implement ANY changes to make the environment better AND they have ZERO backup.

And to that I said it's BS. While they may have zero back up, they still can effect change if they wanted to.

Are you insinuating that these days are not counted towards their pay in some form or another? I would be inclined to think.. NOT. I highly doubt that these deputies are going to court and serving in an official capacity merely out of the kindness of their heart.

Nope. Of course they are getting paid, for only the time they are in their "official capacity" for the hours at the court when scheduled off duty.

 

[OccamsRazor]

And to that I said it's BS. While they may have zero back up, they still can effect change if they wanted to.

How exactly can they do that?

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

How exactly can they do that?

Jeez, I don't know. Read what I've already posted. How about organizing a strike for starters. Attend en mass at BOE board meetings. The list can go on and on.

 

[OccamsRazor]

For your consideration ...





Jeez, I don't know. Read what I've already posted. How about organizing a strike for starters. Attend en mass at BOE board meetings. The list can go on and on.

Maybe because... they can't?

Google-fu to the rescue!

Question: Can teachers in Maryland strike?

Answer: "No, in Maryland, it is illegal for teachers to strike. Maryland law prohibits strikes by public employees, including educators. The Maryland State Education Association states that strikes are prohibited and emphasizes the importance of collective action as an alternative, such as working to rule."