Posted on 06/11/25
| News Source: WBAL
Baltimore, MD - June 11, 2025 - Baltimore County teachers are continuing to call on the school system to honor their contract agreement.
Teachers are demanding the district follow through with already approved pay raises; county leadership said they don’t have the funds.
People rallied outside the final Board of Education meeting of the school year on Tuesday. For months, educators have been demonstrating and walking out of the classroom outside of working hours.
Cindy Sexton, President of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, said they signed a first-of-its-kind three-year agreement a year ago. Now, in the beginning of year two, the district said it cannot honor raises because it lacks the funds.
“Their offer was to fully fund the 5%, but not starting until Jan. 1. So, from July 1 to Jan. 1, we get nothing new,” Sexton said.
The current offer is significantly below what they had agreed on, Sexton said. Baltimore County Public Schools is proposing a 2.7% increase, whereas the existing agreement had a 5% raise.
It comes after Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier shot down the budget needed to fully fund the agreement, which was put forth by the superintendent.
Sexton said to recruit and retain teachers, they must honor and respect agreements made.
“We maintain that in a $2 billion budget, there is money for the educators, the people who are with our students every single day. Ultimately, this is about making sure we have educators for our students. I mean, if that is the only message that I get out there, that is the most important message,” Sexton said.
Now, they’re at an impasse. A separate board will have to determine if that impasse does exist. There will then be a mediator to try reaching an agreement.
BCPS did not respond to 11 News’ inquiry, while the board said they’ll address the topic in Tuesday’s meeting.
The chair of the Baltimore County Board of Education addressed union members and their concerns during Tuesday’s meeting.
“Despite challenges, we have remained focused on priorities: No staff layoffs — all represented BCPS staff will retain positions. Maintaining current class size ratios — an important request from stakeholders,” said board chair Jane E. Lichter. “I wish the compensation packages were beginning in July and not January. I wish we had more funds to do more, because we know there is so much more to do. But, we do not control nor create our own funding. We submitted a budget proposal to the county executive that included our needs, but it was not fully funded.”
Other rallies are planned, including one at Timonium Elementary School Wednesday morning.
“I’m sure there’s money to be found,” said Gina McDonald, a teacher who attended the rally. “If we can constantly curriculum and use money for so many other things, then we can support our teachers.”