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Teachers, support staff and students press board for bigger raises as budget debate nears
Summary
Dozens of teachers, education support professionals and students told the Board of Education they consider a proposed 1% salary pool insufficient, citing the rising cost of living, staffing shortages and teacher retention concerns; speakers urged the board to request additional county funds before finalizing the FY2027 budget.
Multiple teachers, education support professionals (ESPs) and students used the board's public-comment period on Feb. 17 to urge the Board of Education to seek larger pay increases and to address staffing shortages.
Kathy O'Reilly, an educational support professional and year-round organizer with the Maryland State Education Association, said WCPS employs 1,232 teachers and 1,126 educational support professionals who pay county taxes and that the district serves roughly 22,722 students. "When we talk about taxpayers, we are not talking about a separate group of people," she said, arguing that…
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