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Board ratifies ASASP contract; debate rises over 12-month assistant principal positions and school budgets
Summary
The board approved a tentative agreement with the Association of Supervisory and Administrative School Personnel (ASASP). Discussion focused on district plans to provide one 12-month assistant principal position to some schools and whether that allocation affects school-based budgets and staffing.
The Prince George's County Board of Education voted to adopt a tentative negotiated agreement with the Association of Supervisory and Administrative School Personnel (ASASP) on May 8, approving the contract after board discussion.
"This is not in the contract," Dr. Baldwin, chief of human resources, said when asked whether the agreement requires schools to hire an assistant principal even if that would displace teachers. "The initial response is no. This is not in the contract. In regards to FY26, we have partnered to allocate one 12-month assistant principal position to each one of our schools." Board members pressed for clarity about how those 12-month allocations would be funded and whether the change would reduce discretionary school-based budgets.
Board members voiced concern that principals had received different messages about whether an assistant principal was mandatory and whether the district's action would force schools to choose between instructional staff and additional administrative coverage. The district's explanation was that the system is providing a locked 12-month assistant principal position for some schools (about 46 schools were identified as not currently having an assistant principal), while existing 11-month assistant principal positions remain available for principals to purchase from their student-based budgeting allocations.
The board approved the ASASP agreement by roll call, with nine members voting yes. Several board members asked administration to provide written language and clear communication to principals and area offices on which schools will receive locked positions and how the allocations will be implemented.
The administration said it would provide the board with the specific written communications that went to principals and follow up with area offices for impacted schools. The contract itself does not change the student-based budgeting rules; the allocation decision was presented as a central-office staffing choice to provide additional year-round administrative capacity for some school buildings.
Next steps: administration will supply written communications and lists of affected schools and will clarify which positions are locked and how funding is sourced.
