Montgomery County board approves job-title correction, superintendent orders 30-day "blackout period" amid last-minute teacher resignations

The Montgomery County Board of Education on July 29 unanimously approved a corrected job description and personnel reports and heard extended discussion about teacher resignations and hiring practices as the new school year approaches.

The board voted to change the job title from “executive director of student wellness and culture” to “director of student wellness and culture,” and approved certified and classified personnel reports after motions and seconds. All votes were carried by show of hands and recorded as unanimous.

Board members used the personnel items to press district leaders about the timing of hiring and staff notices under what speakers referred to as the "Students First Act." Dr. Keith, a board member, said she had received calls from "disgruntled teachers" concerned that building leaders were leaving teachers unsure whether they would keep their posts next year, and that some instructors felt they were being demoted or retaliated against. "If you quit or resign ... 30 days before, then you we're in trouble," Dr. Keith said, citing uncertainty and workforce loss.

Miss Cloud, also a board member, said tenured teachers were being forced to wait for confirmation of assignments and that some were not allowed into their buildings to prepare classrooms. "These dedicated teachers ... are not being treated with respect enough by the building leader," she said.

Miss Portis urged the district to remind building leaders of hiring procedures and HR authorization: "If you accept a position, if it does not officially come from here, from HR, from the superintendent, you don't have a job," she said, urging a reiteration of the process.

Superintendent Dr. Berg responded that the timing is stressful given that the district was starting school in fewer than two weeks and said he had directed the human resources department to implement what he described as a blackout period consistent with state guidance. "It's the period that 30 days before school start, teachers are not able to resign from their current positions, unless a suitable replacement has been found," Dr. Berg said, adding that HR was working "extremely hard while severely understaffed" to recruit replacements and to avoid forcing teachers to leave without coverage for classrooms.

Dr. Berg said he has spoken with other superintendents and that districts have made trade-offs to hold some positions while allowing others to move. He asked for patience from staff while the district fills vacancies so "we have the best teachers to put in front of our children."

Board members closed discussion and took the personnel votes. The board also announced its next regular meeting: Aug. 12, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

The actions recorded at the meeting were limited to the agenda and personnel approvals that produced the discussion; the board did not vote on new policy language during this meeting beyond approving the corrected job title and personnel reports.