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.