‘One Job Should Be Enough’: Frederick School Board Backs Support Staff Bill of Rights
A 5–2 vote endorses principles including a living wage, affordable healthcare and safe working conditions after employees challenge the district’s presentation.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
The school board voted 5–2 to endorse the education support professionals’ bill of rights. The document sets out principles on compensation, benefits, safety and working conditions; the vote does not itself amend employee contracts or pay. Union members criticized the district’s presentation and lack of consultation, while opposing board members called for concrete action.
Frederick County’s school board endorsed a bill of rights for education support professionals Wednesday after employees described working second and third jobs and urged members to recognize the value of their work.
The measure passed 5–2, according to The Frederick News-Post. Board President Dean Rose, Vice President Rae Gallagher and members Chad King Wilson Sr., Karen Yoho and Janie Inglis Monier voted in favor. Jaime Brennan and Colt Black opposed it.
The Maryland State Education Association’s campaign centers on the idea that one job should provide enough income to live on. Its principles address wages, retirement, healthcare, paid leave, safe workplaces, staffing, job security, advancement, privatization and union rights.
The endorsement is a statement of support. It does not itself change salaries, contracts or future collective bargaining.
Support employees include the people who maintain school buildings, prepare meals, handle office work, transport students and provide classroom, technical and other services.
Before the vote, members of the Frederick Association of School Support Employees challenged an FCPS staff presentation that compared existing contract provisions with the proposed principles. Staff recommended recognizing employees’ importance and affirming the principles without specifically recommending endorsement of the document.
FASSE President Karren Sowell criticized the lack of consultation with employees and the union. She also alleged that the presentation contained inaccuracies and misleading comparisons and omitted important context.
FCPS Chief of Staff Sarah Sirgo said staff had sought to provide a neutral analysis. The presentation highlighted existing benefits and said 70% of FASSE employees either were not full-time or worked less than a 12-month schedule.
Wilson questioned why the union had not been consulted and criticized the presentation. Union members said their pay and working conditions did not adequately reflect the importance of their jobs.
Rose initially proposed supporting the principles as aspirations. After questions about whether that amounted to an endorsement, he withdrew the motion. Wilson then moved to endorse the bill of rights itself.
Brennan said she supported higher salaries and most of the principles but would not support a blanket statement. Black argued that concrete action would matter more than an endorsement. Both raised questions about how positions scheduled for 10 months could provide year-round income.
Supporters maintained that publicly endorsing the document was an important statement of the board’s values. Employees in FASSE shirts applauded when the motion passed.
WHAT IT MEANS
The endorsement gives support employees a formal statement of backing from a majority of the school board. Whether that support produces higher pay, staffing changes or other improvements will depend on subsequent budget decisions, negotiations and board actions.
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