The following letter is about Mr. Martirano's huge mess. It is from the school association.
"Attention EASMC and CEASMC Members:
Important SMCPS Budget Update
Background
We want to catch you up on recent events relative to the school system's budget deficit. As I shared previously, Dr. Martirano is framing the budget problem as the "FY14 Health Care Shortfall" rather than the "FY14 Budget Shortfall," which is more accurate. Honest errors were made that resulted in a significant budget shortfall that went undetected for too long, primarily in the area of healthcare. The budget was faulty and now SMCPS finds itself short funds necessary to cover healthcare and other costs. This is a FAR different problem than what is being shared publicly. Yes, healthcare is extremely expensive, national medical costs continue to skyrocket, and you have a fabulous healthcare plan, but our costs are not significantly outside the norm.
Recent Activity
Please see the attached letter that the three local presidents (EASMC, CEASMC, SMASA) jointly delivered to Dr. Martirano and the Board of Education last Friday morning. We are extremely disappointed to share that to date there have been no responses. Despite our urgings on your behalf, the presentation given to the Board of County Commissioners at yesterday's work session remained largely unchanged (see attached). In fact, Dr. Martirano kicked off his presentation with the statement, "Healthcare is the real issue." We have performed our own independent analysis of SMCPS healthcare data using a private consultant who is an industry expert. He affirmed our theory that the budget and a lack of funding are the problems, not healthcare usage.
Primary Concerns
· This budget crisis is exactly that - a budget crisis, NOT a healthcare usage crisis.
· All funding sources considered, St. Mary's County remains last in per pupil funding.
· Dr. Martirano has publicly stated that there is no money for FY15 negotiations (this means no steps and no COLA), but he has yet to ask for the required money.
· An inflated assessment of SMCPS teacher salaries was communicated yesterday by a Board of Education member at the public Board of County Commissioners' work session.
· As we advised at EASMC's April Representative Assembly, Dr. Martirano said that possible FY15 budgetary solutions include returning IRTs to the classroom and reducing some paraeducators. It is his legal responsibility to request the funds necessary to support the needs of the school system; the FY15 SMCPS budget should reflect no harm to IRTs, paraeducators, and the students who they serve.
· In his April 23 public presentation, Dr. Martirano cited "Negotiate healthcare prescription co-pay increases" as part of his FY15 budgetary solutions. Insurance is NOT a topic open for negotiations for FY15, we have not received a request to open insurance negotiations for FY15, and we will not agree to open insurance negotiations for FY15 should we receive such a request. The soonest that insurance will be a topic for bargaining will be during FY15 for the contract that will be effective FY16.
· If we are going to work collectively to get through this budget crisis, then we need to call it what it is rather than making your well-deserved and fairly bargained healthcare the red herring.
· Negotiations are stalled until the FY14 budget and FY15 funding are more clear.
Our Next Steps
· EASMC, CEASMC, and SMASA jointly requested an emergency meeting with Tammy McCourt, SMCPS' new Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services and Human Resources. It was our intention to share our questions and contradictory findings about SMCPS' healthcare data. Unfortunately, while we were able to have a preliminary phone conversation yesterday afternoon, Ms. McCourt is unavailable to meet with us until after Wednesday due to her preparation efforts for tomorrow's Board of Education work session and meeting.
· We will request additional healthcare usage data based on our initial analysis.
· We will attend the Board of Education's 1:00 p.m. Budget Work Session scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).
· We will share our concerns with the Board of Education during the public comment portion of tomorrow's 5:30 p.m. Board of education meeting.
· We will continue to monitor SMCPS' budgetary process, advocate for the Board of Education to include salary increases in its FY15 budget request, and protect your healthcare by exposing related mistruths and misinformation.
· We will advocate for, defend, and disseminate information to our at-risk members (currently IRTS and paraeducators) regarding the contractual protections and processes should SMPCS decide to proceed with transfers, reductions, or both.
Things You Can Do
· Monitor and review the Board of Education meeting agendas and presentations. They can be found at External Linkhttp://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/smcps/Board.nsf/Public.>· If your schedule allows for it or if you have available personal or annual leave, attend tomorrow's 1:00 p.m. Board of Education Budget Work Session in the Board of Education meeting room at Central Office.
· Attend tomorrow night's 5:30 p.m. Board of Education meeting. Consider sharing your feelings during public comment about the budget crisis and its impact on you, your family, and your students.
· Email the Board of Education members and Dr. Martirano repeating the requests made by us on your behalf in the attached April 24 letter.
· Email the Board of County Commissioners and ask them to adequately fund SMCPS to ensure steps and a COLA, and that all educators remain whole.
We welcome your feedback, and encourage your participation and suggestions. Meanwhile we will continue to keep you informed.
Liz
Liz Purcell Leskinen
UniServ Director, St. Mary's County"
"Attention EASMC and CEASMC Members:
Important SMCPS Budget Update
Background
We want to catch you up on recent events relative to the school system's budget deficit. As I shared previously, Dr. Martirano is framing the budget problem as the "FY14 Health Care Shortfall" rather than the "FY14 Budget Shortfall," which is more accurate. Honest errors were made that resulted in a significant budget shortfall that went undetected for too long, primarily in the area of healthcare. The budget was faulty and now SMCPS finds itself short funds necessary to cover healthcare and other costs. This is a FAR different problem than what is being shared publicly. Yes, healthcare is extremely expensive, national medical costs continue to skyrocket, and you have a fabulous healthcare plan, but our costs are not significantly outside the norm.
Recent Activity
Please see the attached letter that the three local presidents (EASMC, CEASMC, SMASA) jointly delivered to Dr. Martirano and the Board of Education last Friday morning. We are extremely disappointed to share that to date there have been no responses. Despite our urgings on your behalf, the presentation given to the Board of County Commissioners at yesterday's work session remained largely unchanged (see attached). In fact, Dr. Martirano kicked off his presentation with the statement, "Healthcare is the real issue." We have performed our own independent analysis of SMCPS healthcare data using a private consultant who is an industry expert. He affirmed our theory that the budget and a lack of funding are the problems, not healthcare usage.
Primary Concerns
· This budget crisis is exactly that - a budget crisis, NOT a healthcare usage crisis.
· All funding sources considered, St. Mary's County remains last in per pupil funding.
· Dr. Martirano has publicly stated that there is no money for FY15 negotiations (this means no steps and no COLA), but he has yet to ask for the required money.
· An inflated assessment of SMCPS teacher salaries was communicated yesterday by a Board of Education member at the public Board of County Commissioners' work session.
· As we advised at EASMC's April Representative Assembly, Dr. Martirano said that possible FY15 budgetary solutions include returning IRTs to the classroom and reducing some paraeducators. It is his legal responsibility to request the funds necessary to support the needs of the school system; the FY15 SMCPS budget should reflect no harm to IRTs, paraeducators, and the students who they serve.
· In his April 23 public presentation, Dr. Martirano cited "Negotiate healthcare prescription co-pay increases" as part of his FY15 budgetary solutions. Insurance is NOT a topic open for negotiations for FY15, we have not received a request to open insurance negotiations for FY15, and we will not agree to open insurance negotiations for FY15 should we receive such a request. The soonest that insurance will be a topic for bargaining will be during FY15 for the contract that will be effective FY16.
· If we are going to work collectively to get through this budget crisis, then we need to call it what it is rather than making your well-deserved and fairly bargained healthcare the red herring.
· Negotiations are stalled until the FY14 budget and FY15 funding are more clear.
Our Next Steps
· EASMC, CEASMC, and SMASA jointly requested an emergency meeting with Tammy McCourt, SMCPS' new Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services and Human Resources. It was our intention to share our questions and contradictory findings about SMCPS' healthcare data. Unfortunately, while we were able to have a preliminary phone conversation yesterday afternoon, Ms. McCourt is unavailable to meet with us until after Wednesday due to her preparation efforts for tomorrow's Board of Education work session and meeting.
· We will request additional healthcare usage data based on our initial analysis.
· We will attend the Board of Education's 1:00 p.m. Budget Work Session scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).
· We will share our concerns with the Board of Education during the public comment portion of tomorrow's 5:30 p.m. Board of education meeting.
· We will continue to monitor SMCPS' budgetary process, advocate for the Board of Education to include salary increases in its FY15 budget request, and protect your healthcare by exposing related mistruths and misinformation.
· We will advocate for, defend, and disseminate information to our at-risk members (currently IRTS and paraeducators) regarding the contractual protections and processes should SMPCS decide to proceed with transfers, reductions, or both.
Things You Can Do
· Monitor and review the Board of Education meeting agendas and presentations. They can be found at External Linkhttp://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/smcps/Board.nsf/Public.>· If your schedule allows for it or if you have available personal or annual leave, attend tomorrow's 1:00 p.m. Board of Education Budget Work Session in the Board of Education meeting room at Central Office.
· Attend tomorrow night's 5:30 p.m. Board of Education meeting. Consider sharing your feelings during public comment about the budget crisis and its impact on you, your family, and your students.
· Email the Board of Education members and Dr. Martirano repeating the requests made by us on your behalf in the attached April 24 letter.
· Email the Board of County Commissioners and ask them to adequately fund SMCPS to ensure steps and a COLA, and that all educators remain whole.
We welcome your feedback, and encourage your participation and suggestions. Meanwhile we will continue to keep you informed.
Liz
Liz Purcell Leskinen
UniServ Director, St. Mary's County"