This story was updated at 5:25 p.m. to include comments by MCEA President Jennifer Martin.
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Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery County Education Association reached a tentative agreement on wage increases that would take affect in July, MCPS announced Friday.
If County Executive Marc Elrich’s proposed budget concerning education is approved by the county council, salaries for teachers in the next school year would increase by $5,602 for 10-month employees and $6,583 for 12-month employees as well as a step increase for those eligible.
That would mean that teacher salaries would range from $59,640 to $124,416 for 10-month employees and $70,078 to $146,189 for those with 12-month positions. The actual amount depends on experience and years of service.
In the 2024-2025 school year, salaries would increase by $2,918 for 10-month employees and $3,428 for 12-month employees with a step increase for eligible employees.
That would bring salaries to $62,558 to $127,334 for 10-month employees and $73,506 to $149,617 for 12-month employees, according to MCPS.
MCPS said the increases consider the higher cost of living and enable the district to be competitive with surrounding regions. Under the state’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, starting salaries for teachers need to be $60,000 in the upcoming school years.
MCEA President Jennifer Martin wrote in an email to MCM that her organization “is pleased to have reached a two-year tentative agreement with MCPS on wages. We now urged the county council to fund these raises. They will be essential in our efforts to attract and retain excellent educators, reduce staffing shortages and give students the high-quality schools they deserve.”
According to Martin, MCPS educators currently earn between 15% and 17% less in real dollars than they did in 2002. Also, she noted, teachers today earn 23% less than those in professions that require similar levels of education and expertise.
“It’s long past time to show educators—the overwhelming majority of whom are women—the same respect that we do for those who work in male-dominated professions. This tentative agreement is a step in the right direction,” Martin wrote.
The proposed $5.4 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 includes a 10-cent property tax increase that would go exclusively to MCPS. If approved, the budget would include the largest-ever allocation for MCPS at $3.2 billion.
Show the County Council that we support a necessary 10-cent tax increase that will immediately go to salary increases for educators and school staff.
Scan the code to sign our petition!#FundOurFuture #UnitedForOurKids #WeLoveOurPublicSchools pic.twitter.com/D8D88lpma6— Montgomery County Education Association (@mceanea) April 25, 2023
