The Caroline County Education Association (CCEA) and Caroline County Public Schools (CCPS) signed a negotiated agreement on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at a board of education work session. The board unanimously approved the amendment, which union members had voted to ratify on April 30.
CCPS Supervisor of Human Resources and the CCPS Chief Negotiator Rob Willoughby noted that their conversation began in November when they came together to watch a meeting between the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on the topic of career ladders. As a result, CCEA and CCPS created a Career Ladder that is mutually agreeable and unique to Caroline County, and has since been submitted to the AIB and MSDE for approval.
Dr. Willoughby shared that this agreement resolves a previous issue, making teacher steps and years of service equal. He thanked Amy Bauman, CCEA President, for her leadership and Theresa Miles, UNISERV Director, Maryland State Education Association, for her partnership in the process.
Ms. Bauman expressed her appreciation to Dr. Willoughby and the CCPS negotiating team. “I Iove that we are able to work together,” she said. “It was very smooth this year, and definitely felt like we were partners in trying to figure out a solution to something.” Ms. Bauman also referenced the Town Hall that was held with teachers that enabled them to explain changes and answer questions. She thanked Dr. Willoughby for his detailed worked on the Career Ladder, and said she felt Caroline’s design made the document easy to understand.
Superintendent Derek Simmons thanked both Ms. Bauman and Dr. Willoughby, along with their teams, for the hard work. “We’ve worked hard to reestablish a relationship of trust and this is another step in that direction,” he said. “We’ll keep working at it and don’t want to take it for granted, but it’s a much healthier relationship that we will continue to build on.”
Dr. Simmons also referenced upcoming negotiations on the Support Service Agreement, and said he appreciated that CCEA and CCPS were in agreement and looking forward to the work that needs to be done with support service employees.
Board Member Mark Jones expressed that the current relationship between the CCEA and CCPS was something the Board had hoped for in earlier years. “Though Dr. Simmons’ work, it’s become a reality, and it’s been great,” he said. He thanked his fellow board members for not quitting on the teachers or the school system and stated, “We want to set an example of how people should be treated and how the system should run … for the betterment of students. That’s what it’s about."
At the same meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Administrators and Supervisors Association of Caroline County (ASACC), represented by President Courtney Handte, and CCPS, represented by Chief Negotiator Rob Willoughby. Dr. Willoughby explained that they undertake a Meet and Confer Process, which is less formal that negotiations, and said he appreciate Ms. Handte and her team being flexible and accomplishing their task in one meeting.
Ms. Handte stated that she moved away from relatives and come to Caroline County because it felt like it was a family, and years later, she is still here. She said that the relationship during Meet and Confer was comfortable but also involved serious talks, and appreciated Dr. Willoughby, his team and the other ASACC members.
Dr. Simmons thanked them both and reflected that a school system cannot be run without good administrators and supervisors. “They are a small group,” he said, “but very necessary.”
Video of the 5.16.24 Board Work Session
Negotiated Agreement (prior to signing)