[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6545250,"mediaKeyId","3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368","parentId",3798079,"title","Compensation study shows AFSCME pay now close to market; district weighs phased implementation","audioSeconds",1640,"startMs",2240000,"endMs",3880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368&start=2240&end=3880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368/thumbnail_2240000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6545250/Maryland/Compensation-study-shows-AFSCME-pay-now-close-to-market-district-weighs-phased-implementation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545250-6779b16b9866b5ad0a5fc385961369ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771097022&Signature=DHrCutAkvpcK-m5saJF9Ruv45cIXsRlXD~YgLTBJ-ZU5r1j0zuxFy8dUVYkc3zqQ46-wzuYCj~PTvkMM~dgmOm7YJrBR0A-VSw8imOPMRgbD8F6YLIk4lVcL8iEssPN5mZ2Mk1rZ2KphJKZLVKiiI9XaItapmCcyxE1Q3IOqsbSIBZU-4miaGGsuBJy9rTWEtn674axKaOeHbXVBWPb~bXlVspCAVUeOxKpWs~lH63RtWfc8OG6OnI~ih3n2OB7ChR-8TsghOZrUujanUmWum8n171JdIVW2a31KuxjrUNgWR8nhSV6inY~CuYhrIdU~n~--ocPRQkAujTq4XxqZ5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charles County Public Schools","date","2025-06-11T16:38:43Z","article","A consultant team from Evergreen Solutions presented a comprehensive compensation and classification study for the districts AFSCME (support‑staff) group at the Board of Educations June 10 meeting. Nikki Majors, the districts chief human resources officer, said the study was the routine follow‑up to a 2021 review and reflects four years of pay adjustments made to respond to market pressure.

Kristen Fitzpatrick of Evergreen described the two‑phase analysis: an internal review (job assessments, employee outreach and classification alignment) and an external market survey (benchmarks against peer districts, municipalities and relevant employers). The consultants said the district now sits roughly 1.8% below the 50th percentile (midpoint) of the market on AFSCME pay overall — a dramatic improvement from the ~10% behind figure reported in 2021 — but that particular job families (technology, transportation, finance) still trail peers.

Key findings and recommendations
- Internal inequities: multiple AFSCME pay plans (10 different pay plans) produced inconsistent earning potential and compression between new and long‑tenured employees. Evergreen recommended adopting a single unified pay plan and clearer classification definitions (assistant, technician, specialist, manager, director).
- Market gaps: while the overall midpoint gap is now small (about 1.8% below peers), certain families are farther behind. Technology and transportation classifications are especially challenged because they compete with the private sector and other public employers.
- Implementation options: Evergreen provided several transition models with estimated first‑year costs and average percentage adjustments: \"bring to new minimum\" (~$1.3M; ~2% avg. adjustment); \"current/closest step\" (~$4.9M; ~5.5% avg. adjustment); and \"range penetration\" (~$6.8M; ~7.9% avg. adjustment). The consultant recommended a multi‑year approach (year 1: bring to new minimum; year 2: current/closest step) to spread costs.

Board discussion and next steps
Board members and HR staff pressed for detail on sustainability, links to recruitment, and how to focus on critical job families. Majors said staff will produce budgeted recommendations next year; the districts finance team will test multi‑year implementation scenarios against projected revenues. The consultant offered targeted actions for hard‑to‑fill positions and suggested continuing classification reviews every 3–5 years with smaller salary surveys in intervening years.

Clarifying details
The consultant said the study covered roughly 1,663 AFSCME positions in the district at the time the data were compiled. The study included employee outreach (focus groups and a survey) and job assessments submitted to supervisors for verification.

Ending
Majors told the board the study provides a roadmap — with options at multiple price points — and the administration will return with concrete, budgeted implementation recommendations in the coming fiscal cycle.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting - June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An outside compensation and classification study presented June 10 found Charles County Public Schoolss support‑staff pay is now close to market midpoints after recent increases, but consultants warned some job families remain behind and offered phased implementation options costing from roughly $1.3 million to $6.8 million.","taxTitle","Charles County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14205,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6545255,"Board approves FY2026 budget, ratifies union contracts and adopts traditional school calendar",81,254000,335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368&start=254&end=335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368/thumbnail_254000.jpg","/articles/6545255/Maryland/Board-approves-FY2026-budget-ratifies-union-contracts-and-adopts-traditional-school-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545255-b0b57c8c70bffa6488e7e95e6b251b22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771097022&Signature=FhZvRrScNscEpW4inoZtHx7dxuHzvx4j97U5PAC~ZVSGhS2l5ncLm2lRU3aOoLOTrdyIdgtl5ef1SNyRT0CXRD5lmFKPFhcyGWrRrs30Em1XErdgarLaDpK~nQtnrRaInwdixu8806C8B-XhOKlvFw-NlOh3kig68tItgfgaBR7e7HlyRDnoVV60lsVkmmfTrJVUDXY7~R81ssinfwlCQjp5bHEib88qYQtYIzYX8at6tBtHq4zcV8L5kXh8MdMKwnFdOpIMdvD9fPPMX-evzwuy0oBw7wWiMJBDY3q220VK09nC7GFfoHF47PhHyskSh6W4k74olW~~iKROgprdDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charles County Board of Education voted unanimously on June 10 to adopt a $516,701,000 FY2026 operating budget after a presentation by chief financial officer Karen Acton and staff.

The board's vote followed staff presentations on budget drivers — including healthcare cost increases, bus contract and pension increases, anticipated costs for the new elementary school, and negotiated salary adjustments — and an explanation of a separate FY2025 intercategory transfer of $5.7 million to cover year-end category imbalances and unexpected maintenance/repair costs.

Superintendent Dr. Maria Navarro reviewed highlights for families, including summer meals and summer learning opportunities. CFO Karen Acton and budget manager Sherry Fisher Davis explained that the intercategory request is a routine, legally required reallocation across spending categories when actuals differ from projections. Acton emphasized the transfers paid specific operational and payroll timing issues and several facility repairs discovered late in the year.

The board also ratified collective bargaining agreements reached at the bargaining table for two bargaining units:
- AFSCME (support staff): adopted by unanimous vote after a presentation by AFSCME Local 2989 president Gertrude “Gertie” Lawson and district chief negotiator Jeremy Campbell. The board approved the tentative agreement as presented and authorized signatures.
- EACC (certified staff / educators): the board approved the negotiated agreement brought by co‑chief negotiators Dr. Marvin Jones and Kevin Lounds and district negotiators. Board members praised the collaborative process used by both sides.

Other business approved by the board included the education facilities master plan, adoption of the district’s recommended social studies curriculum (after the publisher agreed in writing to specified textual changes), approval of daily and hourly wage rates and tuition schedules for FY2026, and adoption of a traditional-start 2026–27 school calendar.

Board Chairperson Morley and Superintendent Navarro thanked staff and the bargaining teams for completing the negotiations within a tight fiscal environment. Navarro emphasized that some planned initiatives were delayed because statewide and federal funding streams did not arrive at expected levels, and she urged continued coordination with county leaders on funding priorities.

Votes at a glance
- FY2026 operating budget (adoption): approved — unanimous.
- FY2025 intercategory transfers ($5,700,000): approved — unanimous.
- AFSCME collective bargaining agreement: approved — unanimous; board authorized signatures.
- EACC (certified staff) collective bargaining agreement: approved — unanimous; board authorized signatures.
- Daily/hourly wage rates & tuition schedule for FY2026: approved — unanimous.
- Education facilities master plan: approved — unanimous.
- Social studies curriculum adoption (with publisher commitments to edits): approved (board recorded approval and asked to receive signed/published corrections from vendor prior to full deployment).
- 2026–27 school-year calendar (traditional-start model): adopted.

What to expect next
Staff will finalize contract paperwork and scheduling. The district will receive the corrected social studies materials from the publisher before distributing them to classrooms, per the board’s request. CFO Acton and her team said they will continue monitoring FY2025 actuals and report back on month‑end results and any further intercategory movements.

Ending
Board members repeatedly thanked teachers, staff and bargaining representatives for a negotiated outcome reached in a difficult fiscal environment and encouraged continued communication with county leaders about state and federal funding shortfalls that remain a constraint on district plans.","The Charles County Board of Education on June 10 approved the school systems FY2026 operating budget, ratified newly negotiated contracts with both its support‑staff and certified‑staff unions and adopted a traditional‑start 2026\u00121 school calendar.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6545244,"District shifts 1-to-1 device policy: elementary and middle devices to remain at school; high school BYOD option introduced",744,5610000,6354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368&start=5610&end=6354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368/thumbnail_5610000.jpg","/articles/6545244/Maryland/District-shifts-1-to-1-device-policy-elementary-and-middle-devices-to-remain-at-school-high-school-BYOD-option-introduced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545244-f82d12711f533985918bd10e8b18d9b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771097022&Signature=CCJXlhc9dcaY02~pFmN-o08BNWGzHyV4X-NBs7hjhHxtXe9itVUfUjih0qrkHGI6UThX1TQlAzRiY9vSXDTLOZk7O4Zc4IjsWf-SeYS0IBZAG70R3bJq-PtMpb4evkvkCt4J6NV43V0lRtw2lMkEsZvUHGocHJsAIz47ub3oukK0KZll0eKxvR9UZXnHGcrtpwPzVmLZXS17pB5tmKI4V42Od0pA~3t-~1fuoJFbwJ-Pya5h89ThEWqvM7cUIV~GQr8G5uH35h25NJlpgfJM7vx0DgjN02F9qE6CuZTYuL8NC5HGZWCzGKPwq6IKldH-8sTaEtB3b4HfQLkc42p3Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charles County Public Schools Office of Instructional Technology presented a reworked 1‑to‑1 device plan to the Board of Education on June 10, announcing major operational changes for the 2025–26 school year.

Key changes
- Pre‑K and kindergarten: class sets of iPads will remain at school. Ratios will remain small (five iPads per pre‑K classroom; 10 iPads per kindergarten classroom) with a teacher device for management and instructional delivery.
- Grades 1–2: the district will move from a full take‑home model to shared devices (one laptop for every two students) kept at school for instructional use.
- Grades 3–5: class‑set devices will remain in the classroom and will not be issued for home use except for documented needs (individualized education program [IEP] requirements or home‑hospital instruction).
- Grades 6–8 (middle school): devices will remain at school as shared classroom devices; students will not be assigned devices to take home as a general rule.
- Grades 9–12 (high school): the district will preserve the 1‑to‑1 take‑home model for high schools, but will also create an opt‑in BYOD (bring‑your‑own‑device) program for students who prefer to use their own qualifying laptops or tablets; smartphones will not be permitted on the BYOD instructional network.

Why the change
Chief instructional technologist Charmaine Thompson and executive director Laura Bennett said the decision follows four years of experience, federal ESSER‑funded device purchases and an evaluation of cost, damage rates and instructional use. Thompson noted that device damage rates rose sharply when devices circulated widely and were taken home, creating a significant maintenance and replacement burden. The district also cited research and district policy concerns about passive screen time in early grades and said it wants more intentional, pedagogically driven uses of technology by younger learners.

BYOD specifics and equity safeguards
- Families who opt out of a district device will be required to register the approved device and sign a BYOD acknowledgement stating network rules (no VPNs to bypass filtering) and that the district is not liable for damage to privately owned devices.
- The district will restrict BYOD access to specific device types by MAC or IP address and will not open the network to smartphones. The district said it will continue to provide devices for students who lack home access and will keep a pool of school devices available for checkout when required for instruction or for state testing.
- For families lacking Internet access, the district will continue hotspot programs, coordinate with county broadband efforts and direct families to public locations with connectivity. Thompson acknowledged that some rural pockets still lack robust home broadband, and the district will work with principals and student services to supply devices or hotspot access where necessary.

What the board asked and next steps
Board members asked how the changes would affect homework and standardized testing. ICT staff said many educational tools are now web‑based and can be used on any registered device; testing will still be performed on district‑managed devices with the required secure testing software. Staff said principals will have discretion to manage device checkouts for students with documented needs and that communications to families would be expanded this summer to explain the changes.

Ending
Thompson said the district will pilot the model and monitor damage and equity indicators; the technology office will also pursue vendor discount programs to enable families who wish to buy devices to do so at reduced cost.","Charles County Public Schools will scale back take‑home devices for most elementary and middle grades, keep classroom devices on campus and preserve a high‑school take‑home model with a new BYOD option for qualifying laptops and tablets, district technology leaders told the board on June 10.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6545235,"Teachers and parents urge district to boost elementary arts funding; call for stricter high school phone enforcement",273,8731000,9004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368&start=8731&end=9004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368/thumbnail_8731000.jpg","/articles/6545235/Maryland/Teachers-and-parents-urge-district-to-boost-elementary-arts-funding-call-for-stricter-high-school-phone-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545235-82cb423d24bfb31fb9df208f7f65151e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771097022&Signature=dLthryaTquNfVPvu8iCxYYilIb9cULay~FZBo-KQ9O7D90P2O3QGUNpoNjG7ejpiIvm--EgI3Ryxivht9gCx2TAO7XSTxW3RN9ecxsp3KiQkSQkazM-~Dm4jh7IFBIVyNaov86ZQf10DFQU86JhJ2IfSfvlnIClicniiXWKbtysNc7sliYofJJ2~WMCS2Xhsu16Vl071oZwVSVX1Axrb7XHwpbOU7obHhH6wvO5JFUr2iL6OhPfJ-XyUHd68iOf~K9WlDvNwR2kyvP7rJsPFvBDNNLej3RToaOnMwecAwgGdOQ65Xy~COBPWWdIb5MWiyoba-mXs9T7-kJvXNuQgZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several public‑commenters at the June 10 Board of Education meeting pressed the district for more consistent support of arts instruction and for stricter cell‑phone enforcement in high schools.

Arts funding concerns from teachers
Visual arts teacher Veronica Golden told the board she has taught in Charles County for 18 years and that elementary visual‑arts programs are underfunded “across the district.” Golden told board members she and other elementary art teachers received very limited classroom budgets — she cited receiving $150 for a school of 340 students (about $0.45 per pupil) — and asked the district to adopt a real per‑pupil funding formula and to hold school leaders accountable for following it.

Choir and music teacher Peter Ullman said he has personally paid for extracurricular music materials and cited students who have become nationally known performers after programs supported by teachers. Ullman asked the board for funding parity and said many music teachers shoulder costs for repertoire and materials from personal funds.

What teachers asked the board to do
- Create and apply a transparent, consistent per‑pupil funding formula for arts instruction at the elementary level.
- Ensure building leaders allocate their school budgets to arts teachers and to supply classrooms with basic consumables.
- Explore bulk or discounted purchasing programs for families who want to buy BYOD devices (raised as a separate topic by board members later in the meeting).

Cell phone enforcement in high schools
Teacher Kevin Gibson urged the board to empower principals and administrators to consistently enforce the superintendents rule requiring high‑school students to keep phones powered off and stored, except during designated times such as lunch. Gibson described widespread in‑class phone use that he said disrupts instruction, enables students to bypass filters through cellular/VPN use and creates disciplinary problems. He asked that administrators confiscate phones when students refuse to comply and require parents to collect repeated‑offender phones.

Board response
Board and administrative members acknowledged the public comments and said they would pass concerns to the appropriate offices. Several board members said they would follow up with the Office of Teaching and Learning and the Office of Finance on arts funding questions. Superintendent Navarro and staff noted hotspot programs, community partnerships and other efforts to address equity and material access and invited teachers to continue conversations with principals and central staff.

Ending
Speakers portrayed the concerns as immediate classroom needs rather than abstract policy; the board signaled it would add follow‑up briefings and consider staff proposals this summer.","During public comment at the June 10 Board of Education meeting, elementary visual‑arts and music teachers and other speakers told the board they lack consistent per‑pupil funding for arts instruction and that some schools operate on minimal budgets (teachers cited figures such as $150 for several hundred students). Speakers asked",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6545241,"District assessment committee recommends clearer communication and more teacher support to reduce testing burden",368,8513000,8881000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368&start=8513&end=8881","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798079-b2d4c81b1bddf750319d80ab559d1368/thumbnail_8513000.jpg","/articles/6545241/Maryland/District-assessment-committee-recommends-clearer-communication-and-more-teacher-support-to-reduce-testing-burden","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545241-9fd75d1aaa983d11cb2f8ed60ec7c8a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771097022&Signature=FXm-whKXUWEOQvtUzllNepVn~5kdGup3qfagHt4YRE0cDaWZubYgZneCt9~kSl42Ee2Rn3Lu8DxLGjkikb98DERdbHKfZyIsT9TGBUkajArJvcq56ZMoc6VGpPiWp5Y~-c9HvfIXs~gd3b50OMLrlg1qCh6lMOx9rswrU~oKfIk9ca-JmSQpr8MAn0H4X5D-dYeCJy1myGrZtF6gRLTotyOf2I425jGF464wAhqhOxFeRT7ulNv2ElpkvKej2zfO1e4cZBnyDwzMFFkRr4-MHbXN0KZH45fC3spKm9b7C9rmYJAy~JUXsT09e4iocA2xKhfNcGAfr68AqboA3pFDHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The districts biennial assessment review committee presented findings to the Board of Education on June 10, saying Charles County Public Schools remains within the states testing‑minute guidelines but can reduce the collateral burden by improving communication, teacher training, and the instructional use of results.

What the committee reviewed
The panel — assembled under Maryland law to review district testing minutes, purpose, and value — quantified time spent on required districtwide assessments (state tests, common assessments and other mandated district instruments). Committee members reported the greatest testing time appears in grades with state assessments (third grade and up) and the minutes fall within the legally permitted limit (the state cap established in 2017).

Findings and recommendations
- Communication: The committee said parents and students often do not understand the purpose of specific district or state assessments. It recommended clear communications to families and more frequent reminders to encourage completion of free/reduced lunch forms (a separate budget issue raised in board discussion).
- Teacher support & professional learning: Members recommended structured professional learning time for teachers to analyze assessment results and plan targeted instruction (collaborative planning/PLT time with a guided protocol). The committee noted a need to give teachers better, faster access to usable results so instruction can be adjusted promptly.
- Student engagement: The group recommended giving students time to reflect on assessment results and to understand next steps; students who know the purpose of tests are more likely to provide reliable efforts.
- Grade‑level alignment and item types: The committee asked schools to expose students to the variety of item types (constructed responses, sequencing, multi‑select) that appear on state assessments so the testing format itself does not produce unnecessary difficulty.
- Screeners and KRA: The committee discussed the reintroduction of Marylands kindergarten readiness assessment (KRA) and recommended using the KRA as the primary early‑grade readiness measure while reserving diagnostic screeners, such as Acadience, for targeted intervention monitoring.

Administration response
Instructional leadership said work is already underway to strengthen teacher capacity to analyze data and to integrate analysis into next years collaborative planning framework. The district will gather feedback from principals on fieldwork from this spring and will coordinate communications for families about why tests are given and what scores mean.

Ending
Committee members said the intention is not to eliminate useful assessments but to ensure each required instrument has a clear instructional purpose, that teachers are supported to use the data, and that parents and students understand the role of assessments in helping teachers plan targeted instruction.","A state‑mandated assessment review committee reported to the board that Charles County Public Schools meets statutory testing‑minute limits but should improve communication, student reflection on results and teacher training to make tests more useful. The committee recommended clearer parent and student guidance, more frequent","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Compensation study shows AFSCME pay now close to market; district weighs phased implementation

Board approves FY2026 budget, ratifies union contracts and adopts traditional school calendar

District shifts 1-to-1 device policy: elementary and middle devices to remain at school; high school BYOD option introduced

Teachers and parents urge district to boost elementary arts funding; call for stricter high school phone enforcement

District assessment committee recommends clearer communication and more teacher support to reduce testing burden