Worcester County Board ratifies teacher and support‑staff contracts, approves personnel and several operational items

The Worcester County Board of Education on April 2025 unanimously approved a package of personnel, contract and operational items, including ratification of negotiated agreements with the Worcester County Teachers Association and the Worcester County Educational Professionals Association and a $4.95 million iPad refresh lease for staff and teachers.

The agreements with both bargaining units cover the 2025–26 school year and include a step increase for eligible employees, salary‑scale adjustments and modified contract language, the superintendent said. The board also approved the personnel exhibit listing retirements, new hires, separations and promotions, adopted a new employee/contractor records retention policy to align with Maryland law, authorized a contractor bus purchase and the sale of an older 2013 bus to the district for use as a spare, and selected four architectural firms for interviews related to the Berlin Intermediate School feasibility study.

Why it matters: the contract ratifications set compensation and working conditions for the next school year; the iPad lease is a large, multiyear technology commitment the district said is included in the proposed operating budget; and the personnel exhibit updates staffing across schools. The items were routine on the agenda but have direct budget and operational impact.

The board acted on the superintendent's personnel exhibit, which listed retirements (including Sandra Friedman and Lewis Taylor), multiple new hires across schools and several promotions. Dr. App (presenting staff member) recommended approval; Dr. John Andes moved the motion and Elena McComas seconded. The motion carried without recorded opposition.

Board members also unanimously approved formal ratification of the negotiated agreements after the Worcester County Teachers Association and the Worcester County Educational Professionals Association ratified them. Superintendent Louis H. Taylor and district negotiators thanked the unions' negotiators and noted the contracts were finalized quickly this year.

The board adopted new policy VC‑10, “Employee/Contractor Record Retention, Storage and Destruction,” presented as necessary to secure employee and contractor records and comply with the Maryland Public Information Act. The motion was moved and seconded by board members and approved by voice vote.

On operations, Transportation Manager Kim Heiser presented an exhibit asking the board to allow a contractor (Scott Shockley) to purchase a new bus and sell his 2013 bus to the district to serve as a spare; the board approved the request. Facilities staff presented a recommendation of four architectural/engineering firms — Becker Morgan Group; Crabtree Werbaugh and Associates; Grama and Grama; and Hort Copeland Macht — to be interviewed May 7 for the Berlin Intermediate feasibility study; the board approved interviews. The board also approved a March monthly financial report showing $5,504,149.64 in non‑salary expenditures for the period.

Technology: the board approved a multi‑year lease to refresh staff and teacher iPad devices, accessories and cases at a total cost of $4,954,890; the district said the purchase will be funded through the annual operating budget and the existing devices will be sold to offset cost. District staff described the agreement as a four‑year refresh cycle and said the cost was included in the proposed budget.

Votes at a glance

- Ratify negotiated agreements with Worcester County Teachers Association and Worcester County Educational Professionals Association — motion carried; mover: William Buchanan; second: Donald Smack; outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition). - Approve April personnel exhibit (hires, separations, retirements, promotions) — motion carried; mover: John Andes; second: Elena McComas; outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition). - Adopt new policy VC‑10 (Employee/Contractor Record Retention, Storage and Destruction) — motion carried; mover: John Andes; second: William Gordy; outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition). - Authorize contractor bus purchase and district purchase of contractor’s 2013 bus for spare — motion carried; mover: William Buchanan; second: Elena McComas; outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition). - Select four AE firms for Berlin Intermediate feasibility study interviews (Becker Morgan Group; Crabtree Werbaugh and Associates; Grama and Grama; Hort Copeland Macht) — motion carried; mover: John Andes; second: William Gordy; outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition). - Approve Apple iPad device refresh lease (devices, cases, peripherals) — motion carried; mover: Donald Smack; second: William Buchanan; outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition). - Approve March monthly financial report (non‑salary expenditures $5,504,149.64) — motion carried; mover: Elena McComas; second: William Gordy; outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition).

What board members said: board members thanked negotiators and staff for a collaborative process. Board President Todd Ferrante and Superintendent Louis H. Taylor publicly thanked union leaders and district negotiators after ratification and held a signing ceremony on the spot.

Looking ahead: board staff said interviews for the Berlin Intermediate feasibility study will be scheduled for May 7; contract and personnel changes take effect per the negotiated timelines in the agreements and district procedures.