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Certificated and ESP Contracts

Negotiated Agreements


Negotiated master agreements between HCEA and HCPSS

Our union contracts are negotiated by a team of HCEA members with the Howard County Board of Education. The resulting agreements define our pay and working conditions, benefits, rights and privileges, and much more. Our contracts also specify what happens in the event of a dispute over interpretation of the agreement, including grievances and binding arbitration.

Salary Scales

Certificated Salary Scales

ESP Salary Scales

Highlights of the 2023-2024 Agreements

Certificated Highlights

Compensation

  • Salary Step/COLA: One step and 4% COLA for all eligible employees effective July 1,
  • Industry & Trades Teachers: New language that allows I&T teachers to make lane advancements on the salary
  • Coaches/Advisors: 20% increase to stipends and guaranteed increases tied to future COLA increases. New stipends for Graduation Coordinator, Mock Trial, and four additional National Honor Societies.
  • ITLs: 20% increase to ITL stipends and guaranteed increases tied to future COLA increases
  • PTs/BCBAs/Audiologists: $3000 stipend for those with national certifications
  • School Counselors: $2000 stipend for those who become National Certified School Counselors (NCSCs) instead of NBCTs
  • Outside the Duty Day: guaranteed increases to compensation for after-school extension programs and attending/leading workshops that are tied to future COLA increases

Leaves of Absence

  • More flexible leave use: 10-month employees will now earn 6 sick days and 7 personal days annually; 11- month employees will now earn 7 sick days and 8 personal days annually; 12-month employees will stay at 12 sick days and 4 personal days annually since they also get paid annual leave
  • Personal Leave: Can now accrue and carry-over up to 10 personal days each year; can use up to 6 personal days consecutively; personal days can be used in place of sick days if an employee runs out of sick days; can now be taken in ½ hour increments if a sub is not needed
  • Legal Leave: Parity with the ESP contract which includes legal leave for cases unrelated to employment in certain circumstances

ESP Highlights

Compensation

  • Salary Step/COLA: One step and minimum 4% COLA for all eligible employees effective July 1, 2023, which includes a preliminary reorganization of the Secretaries and Assistants scale (we plan to continue this work in future contract negotiations)
  • Health Assistants: $1.00 hourly differential for health assistants who work in telemedicine school-based wellness centers
  • Paraeducators: $1.50 hourly differential for paras who work in ‘specialized’ programs
  • Interpreters: Guaranteed increases with future COLA increases applied to the “freelance” hourly rates that interpreters receive when working outside their duty day
  • Coaches/Advisors: 20% increase to stipends and guaranteed increases tied to future COLA increases. New stipends for Graduation Coordinator, Mock Trial, and four additional National Honor Societies.
  • Secretaries/Assistants/Clerks: compensation for after-school extension programs, attending/leading workshops, and extended field trips, plus guaranteed increases of these stipends tied to future COLA increases

Leaves of Absence

  • More flexible leave use: 10-month employees will now earn 6 sick days and 7 personal days annually; 11- month employees will now earn 7 sick days and 8 personal days annually; 12-month employees will stay at 12 sick days and 4 personal days annually
  • Personal Leave: Can now accrue and carry-over up to 10 personal days each year; can use up to 6 personal days consecutively; personal days can be used in place of sick days if an employee runs out of sick days
  • Annual Days: 12-month ESP with less than 10 years of service will receive one additional annual day.
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