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Teachers, union and BCPS officials urge full funding of negotiated contracts and special education services
Summary
Teachers' union TABCO, BCPS negotiators, and school staff asked the county to prioritize school operating and special education funding to preserve a three‑year contract, retain staff, and meet legally mandated services.
Multiple educators and Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) officials used the county town hall to press the county executive and council to fully fund the school system's operating request for FY26, emphasizing the second year of a negotiated three‑year wage and working‑conditions agreement and special education services.
Benjies, who identified themselves as a Parkville High teacher speaking for the teachers union TABCO, said the primary concern is ensuring the second year of the three‑year negotiated agreement is fully funded so the district can recruit and retain educators. “We really need to continue to recruit and retain great educators to make BCPS a world class school system,” the speaker said.
Allison Myers, executive director of special education for BCPS, told the panel that centering special education has produced systemic gains and asked the county to prioritize funding for nonpublic placement expenses, related services such as speech and occupational therapy, and special educators that BCPS described as legally mandated.
Joelle Bilski, BCPS chief negotiator and director of staff relations, said bargaining teams negotiated an “unprecedented three‑year contract” and warned that insufficient funding would force cuts that negatively affect student achievement, building maintenance and transportation. Several other speakers — including Parkville staff and students — described overcrowding, multiple trailers at schools, and staff shortages.
Speakers asked the county to consider school‑specific conditions in budget cuts; a county staff member responded that the county and school system are using a multi‑year improvement plan with an equity lens to guide capital and facilities decisions.
Speakers requested that the county fully fund BCPS priorities to protect student services, retain administrators and staff, and maintain transportation and building operations.
