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CBS News
5 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Baltimore County teachers are closer to raises, but the union holds out for original agreement
A promised pay raise for Baltimore County teachers is inching closer to reality, but the teachers' union says the current proposal still falls short of what was originally agreed on. Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) had initially committed to a 5% raise for educators as part of a three-year compensation package. However, after the district received less funding than requested from County Executive Kathy Klausmeier's budget, the offer was reduced to 1.5%. Following pushback from the Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO), including rallies and a shift to "work to rule" — where educators limit their work strictly to contracted hours — the district returned from negotiations with a revised offer of 2.5%. But it was still below the union's expectations. After further negotiations, BCPS announced an agreement with four of the five unions representing district employees. Under the new proposal, teachers would still receive the full 5% raise, but not until Jan. 1, 2026, rather than the originally planned July 1, 2025. The entire compensation timeline has now been shifted six months later than originally scheduled. "It's definitely been a tough budget season, but we have thankfully made some progress," said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. Revised Compensation Schedule: Original Year 2: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 New Year 2: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 Original Year 3: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 New Year 3: January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027 "We are able to provide the full year-two compensation package to all Team BCPS employees," Dr. Rogers said. "The only difference is the timing." TABCO fights for an initial pay raise agreement TABCO has not accepted the new deal and is weighing its next steps. The union is expected to vote on whether to declare an impasse — a formal process that could lead to third-party arbitration to resolve the issue. "Our members are definitely not in the position to do that," TABCO President Cindy Sexton said. "They are still very angry. They still want to keep showing up every day in these walk-ins, walk-outs, and work-to-rule actions." Sexton also plans to attend and speak at the upcoming school board meeting on Tuesday, June 3, continuing to press the district to honor the original compensation timeline. School district has financial limitations Dr. Rogers said she empathizes with the teachers' frustration but emphasized the district's financial limitations. "If we could, I would have been the first one saying, 'Here it is,' and celebrating with everyone," Dr. Rogers said. "But that's just not the fiscal climate we find ourselves in." Negotiations remain ongoing as educators, administrators, and union leaders work toward a final agreement ahead of the upcoming school year. Possible Baltimore County school cuts Dr. Rogers recently stated that the school district encountered an unexpected level of financial stability due to its limited resources. In an email, Rogers outlined plans for cost-saving measures, which included eliminating some supervisory positions in the central office, extending a hiring freeze for non-school building roles, cutting $14 million from supplies and materials, and reducing division and department budgets.
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
Baltimore County schools test cellphone restrictions to curb classroom distractions
Seventeen Baltimore County public schools are taking part in a pilot program aimed at teaching responsible cellphone use and limiting distractions in the classroom. The program limits phone access during class time to reduce distractions and help students stay focused, while allowing teachers to reclaim instructional time. Once class starts, the devices are tucked away in pouches. "I will admit, I was a little nervous at the start of the school year, not knowing how it was going to unfold," said Sparrows Point High School Principal Emily Caster. The pilot program results will inform a new systemwide digital-use policy being developed this summer. It will go into effect next school year as Baltimore County schools join a nationwide movement to help children focus in the classroom. Getting used to the cellphone pilot program Teachers and students were at first skeptical of the cellphone policy. "At first, the kids didn't really enjoy it," said Jennifer Bodis, a teacher at Sparrows Point High School. "You know, it's a change. They didn't love it." Some students admitted that the adjustment was challenging. "Oh my God, my phone is getting blown up, I can hear the text messages ringing in my brain," said Kayla Rachuba, a rising 10th grader. "It was very inconvenient because all of my friends had left," said Ava Green, a rising senior. "So I couldn't really be on my phone. All my friends are in college now." Routines eventually formed. Students socialize briefly before class, then store their phones when the bell rings. "In the first five minutes, you can socialize, but as soon as the bell rings, you should put your phone up in the pouches and class just starts," said Chloe Bloom, a rising 11th grader. Change in classroom culture The cellphone restriction has been profound for the teachers. "On the most basic level, it just returns the focus to teaching and learning," Caster said. Bodis said that classroom culture has changed. "My class used to be very, very noisy," she said. "Then there was a time when you didn't hear the kids, and now the noise is back. It's good noise. It's productive noise." Spanish teacher Ashley Dauses noticed that the cellphone policy adds more to the students' social aspect, along with academic improvement. "It's really built up this sense of interpersonal communication skills," Dauses said. "And it's going to take them far in life." Results are showing While teachers appreciate the newfound focus, students are also starting to see results. "Look at all the missing assignments you don't have this quarter," Bodis said. "They've seen the benefit in that, and that's been great." Green said her academic performance improved. "My GPA actually got much better," she said. "I applied for more college classes. So I'm more focused on my college now, instead of on my phone worrying about Twitter."
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Baltimore County school leaders scramble to fund teacher raises and close budget gap
Baltimore County Public Schools is working to finalize its budget ahead of a key vote by the County Council on Thursday. Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers said her team has spent the past few months pushing for a larger budget. But they received only a portion of what they asked for from the county executive, forcing the district to rework its financial plans. "Tomorrow afternoon, the Baltimore County Council will vote on the fiscal year 2026 operating budget," Rogers said. Rogers' staff has been analyzing numbers to close a wide funding gap and determine how to honor a previously negotiated three-year compensation package for teachers. "We have been hard at work night and day. The budget team has run and re-run numbers," Rogers said. No specific dollar figures have been shared before the Thursday vote. Rogers and her team are expected to present the revised proposal to the Baltimore County Council before the vote. Rogers added that every dollar in the request is essential. "As every dollar in the request is needed to deliver the best possible education for 110,000 students and to move our system forward," Rogers said. Baltimore County teachers seek salary increases Cindy Sexton, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, said educators are feeling the strain. "There are teachers who are ready to resign, so a lot is going on, and of course, money is not the only issue," Sexton said. "We know that teaching is hard work." The compensation package was meant to increase salaries over three years, but financial uncertainty at the state and federal levels has put that promise at risk. "There is anger, there is angst, there is disappointment, there is frustration," Sexton said. "There are all of those things because, as I just said, we had a three-year deal." Still, Rogers remains optimistic. "With the additional state funds we have confirmed are available to BCPS for FY26 and further savings measures, I am confident that we will decrease the funding gap and finalize a compensation package for our dedicated BCPS staff members that is comparable to county government," she said.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- CBS News
Man, woman found shot to death in detached garage in Baltimore County, police say
A man and a woman were found dead from gunshot wounds on Sunday, May 18, in Baltimore County, according to police. Officers responded around 2 p.m. to the 7400 block of School Avenue in Dundalk, where 42-year-old April Nadeau and 43-year-old Timothy Brinegar had been shot inside a detached garage. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the shooting was isolated and there is no threat to the community. Murder-suicide response in Owings Mills In April, Baltimore County police responded to a murder-suicide involving a married couple in Owings Mills. Police responded to an assault call at a house on Avery Hill Drive in the Worthington Park neighborhood. But when officers arrived, 59-year-old Karen Franklin and 63-year-old Gary Franklin were dead with apparent gunshot wounds. Police determined that one of the two died from a self-inflicted gunshot. "You don't know what is going through people's heads, but it's just very sad for the children, and just a horrible situation," neighbor Dan Katz said. Baltimore County crime As of Saturday, May 17, there have been 16 homicide victims in Baltimore County, according to the county's crime data. Baltimore County crime data reveals there were nine homicide victims during the same timeframe in 2024 Crime in the county has been on the decline over the past two years, according to the Baltimore County crime data. In 2023, there were 61,154 criminal offenses reported in the county. In 2024, there were 58,561 criminal offenses reported, according to Baltimore County Police data. Many of the crimes reported in Baltimore County between January 2024 and May 2025 are theft, assault, or fraud offenses. 5 Baltimore County shootings involving police in 2025 Baltimore County police have had five shootings involving officers in 2025, according to Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough. On Monday, May 18, an armed man, identified as Glenn Pettie, was shot and killed by officers during a mental health response in Dundalk, according to police. McCullough said two officers fired shots at the man with whom they had an exchange. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. Police shot a knife-wielding man on May 15 in Essex, police said. Police said the person refused to drop the knife before being shot. On Thursday, May 15, police said an armed man was injured after being shot by Baltimore County officers in Essex. Police said the person refused to drop the knife. On April 23, a man who police said was armed with a bow and arrow was shot and killed by police in Arbutus. Police said two officers encountered the man, and during the interaction, one of the officers shot the man. Officers provided medical aid until first responders arrived and took the man to a hospital, where he died. Police said a bow and several arrows were recovered from the scene. On March 13, a Baltimore County police officer and a gunman were injured in a shootout in the parking lot of the Wilkens precinct in Catonsville. Police said the alleged gunman walked into the precinct building on Walker Avenue, left, and then walked around, where he engaged with an officer pumping gas. Police said the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Andrew Britt, a Baltimore City teacher, fired shots at the officer before other officers returned fire and shot the man. The officer was taken to Shock Trauma, and days later, he was released. Britt will be on trial in 2026. "The thing I want to point out is the danger of the number of handguns that are on the street, the number of handguns that our officers are encountering," McCullough said. "More and more people are armed with handguns or armed with a knife."
CBS News
19-05-2025
- CBS News
Teacher charged with sexually assaulting students in Anne Arundel County to begin trial
A former Anne Arundel County elementary school teacher is scheduled to stand trial Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting numerous female students. Police say Matthew Schlegel, who worked as a teacher at Severna Park Elementary, is facing at least 36 charges ranging from second degree assault to sex abuse of a minor. Investigators conducted at least eight forensic interviews with students since launching the investigation in March 2024, according to police. The students alleged their third-grade math teacher, Schlegel, inappropriately touched them during classroom time. Detectives said the alleged assaults of third-grade girls occurred during class at Severna Park Elementary School between August 2022 and March 2024. What investigators found Police began investigating in March and conducted at least eight forensic interviews with students who alleged they were touched inappropriately by Schlegel, their third-grade math teacher, during class. The Anne Arundel County Public School system removed Schlegel from the classroom on March 15 immediately after being notified of the allegations, according to the school district. Similar incidents In June 2024, a Randallstown High School teacher was accused of performing sexual acts on a minor, who was a student at the school. In addition to the assault, the Baltimore County State's Attorney's office accused Carlos Arroyo of grooming the victim. According to investigators, Arroyo was giving the victim rides to the Metro Station on Painters Mills Road. The female victim told to authorities that Arroyo was helping her because she faced a lengthy walk to the bus station followed by an extended bus trip home. In July 2024, a Baltimore City school teacher at Baltimore's Merganthaler Vocational-Technical High School was charged with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl who lived in the same apartment complex. Lewis Laury, 24, was charged with the second-degree rape and sexual offense in the third degree, after police accused Laury of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
