Remarkable how quickly an agreement can be made and voted on, but some schools are still waiting for air conditioning or still teaching out of trailers.

While I agree that SOME teachers deserve a pay raise, I think that giving ALL teachers a pay raise is a joke. My daughter is in high school and I have been appalled with the teaching or should I say lack of that she has endured. A couple of her teachers have told her class exactly what will be on their exams. Another said that she was taking out parts of their exam because they didn't get a chance to teach it. And proceeded to say that all she cares about is how she looks through the Board of Education. They are doing our children a disservice by teaching down our kids. They are supposed to be preparing our children for college. I'm sorry, but babying them is not preparing them. But yet the teachers have the audacity to complain about not getting a raise? And that just because they picket a couple of times, they are getting raises? And not by merit, but just because. I haven't received a raise in 4 years and deserve it. Here most of these teachers expect a raise. This is a joke.

It's not enough...but it's something. I'm not a teacher, but my children and grandchildren have all received great educations in the Harford County School system, for which I am eternally grateful. I'm not opposed to my taxes being raised for teacher's salaries or pensions. They deserve more than we can ever pay them. They are educating our future.

Yeah! Teachers of Harford County...we APPRECIATE YOU!

Well, Congratulations. Your wining was heard. I'm just afraid to know what program is suffering so you all get more money.

If the raises are paid with Harford County taxes, where will I, as a resident of Harford County see this raise in my taxes.

Why is it when teachers ask for a raise, or for at least the step increase they were legally contracted to receive, it is whining? Is it whining when you ask your employer for a raise? Not only has the pay scale been frozen for several years, but insurance and pension contributions have been increased, actually decreasing take home pay. To Kelly, why are you able to say you deserve a pay raise, but a teacher does not?

Most of our teachers go above and beyond what is required every day. An experience with an individual teacher should not be generalized to all teachers. Additionally, regarding babying our students, as adults, when being tested for a job or skill, I believe we know what is going to be on the test. In fact, there is a huge industry that is focused on preparing people for SATs, GREs, MCATS, etc. by telling them what is on the exam. An apprentice knows exactly what skills he or she will be demonstrating for a tester. College courses adapt assessments all the time based on the material covered. Why shouldn't our public teachers be able to do the same?

Does this include support staff?We/The custodians work tirelessly all year round and we have had no increase/cola/step in 4 years as well.I am on the other hand sad to hear that 1% is going to take away from other programs that were an asset to the students.My last child graduated on Thursday and he received a WONDERFUL EDUCATION at HHS so sorry that the future students may do without for a medial 1%.....The teachers work very hard and some stay well beyond "CONTRACTUAL" time to be able to fullfill the requirements put on them from HCPS...If you feel likeyour childs education was minimal might want to ask YOURSELF why that is..The back bone o a good education comes in 3 parts in my opinion
1.Teacher
2.Student
3.PARENT

I agree with the earlier posts. There are Teachers out there that deservre a raise and ALOT of Others don't. How do they get a raisde and the rest of the Harford County employees don't and have waited as long as they have.

Suppot staff if gonna take it in the shorts to please the "deserving" teachers

I think it is wonderful for the teachers in Harford County that you are getting a raise! However, you should be happy about the salary you receive. Just try to get a job if you have to leave teaching (for whatever reason) and you will find out how fortunate you are to have a teacher's salary. Receptionists and administrative assistants don't get paid nearly as much and right now in today's economy you will be lucky or blessed to get another job.

John Diven, thank you!! That was classic.

BTW, to all of those idiots out there, and you know who you are, Teachers have had a step freeze for the last 4 years. I do not think that any employee when hired would agree to a pay that is lower than what they were told when they were hired. I can not imagine receiving my paycheck and seeing a number that is lower than what was promised/told to me. That does not make sense. Also, Teachers are not giving students the answers before a test is taken. That is a lie told by your kid!!

Sooooooo because support staff has no degree or do not earn a masters in 10 years that makes us undeserving?Please JOHN SMITH do my job and tell me that.We work VERY hard and sweat for EVERY penny we EARN!!!!!!!!!!Come work in a school in the summer months and do what we do...Clean up after 700 plus kids 5 days a week...Clean up after a basketball/football game..Come out there when schools are closed due to inclement weather and push a shovel to clear the sidewalks sooo the kids can return to school SAFELY..I do all this and I like my job and I am sure the teacher who put years into their education like their job they just want what they were contractually agreed to.

A statement from the Harford County Board of Education said a lack of funding for the salary increases will be supplemented by "significant reductions in staffing and other programmatic areas throughout the budget to include professional development, overtime, meetings and conferences and equipment."

Nice Job Teachers. At your expence there will be people without work that will have a harder time finding jobs because they don't have the education you have. There will also be less if any overtime, Now you can fight to get back the computers, copiers, and any other equipment that you and the students lost because of you raise. YAY YOU!!!!! Congratulations on screwing the people that support you.

John Smith's comments
"How much continuing education is the Suppot staff required to have? How many of the Suppot staff are required to get their Masters Degree in 10 years? Not to make light of anybody's job but where's the correlation? I was at one of the more recent budget hearings and heard more than one Harford County DPW worker lamenting the lack raises. You can sub-contract grass cutting out for probably way less than those county workers are making, not including the retirement and benefits." Proves the holier than thou attitude of teachers. Maybe the County should sub contract teachers after all "You can sub-contract grass cutting out for probably way less than those county workers are making, not including the retirement and benefits: substitute grass cutting with the word teachers.

Will one of the teachers please teach us why its ok to take from other's? Did you get the message? The board in their own clever way is showing you that to give you what you want others around you will suffer. I bet if you are married to that maintenance worker or custodian, you dont think any of this is so great. With your raise, I do now expect that you will recommit yourself and do a much better job. Let's see some improvement and then you can really earn that next "step".

I cant beleive the teachers on hear are so condensending to their co-workers. You made it very clear that you are better than the aid, lunch lady and the guys that take care of your school. "Those who can -- do. Those who can't -- teach"

Aren't pay raises in the county based on evaluations? And if so where does this leave DPW workers and other divisions that haven't received anything in the past years?

@Teacher21, It is true that a master's degree would demand a higher pay grade than a clerical position, but ANY raise would impact that clerical workers life much more than it does yours. The School system isn't offering to pay for her Master's Degree. Maybe she is trying to goto night school? She's is probably working that position because she was educated by you!

A) I'm not a teacher.
B)@Robert - your "deserving" condescension of teachers is what sparked the comment. I don't know what your job is but could you switch roles with a teacher, I for one couldn't. All of you haters on this site look at it like teachers are greedy, self-serving people just out for a fatter paycheck. When the reality is that this doesn't come begin to satisfy the contract that the teachers AND the School Board signed several years ago.
C)@Tim - servant and protector of the downtrodden. If you knew ANYTHING about the budget here in Harford County you would know that Craig has the money to pay the previously contracted salaries. But in a show of politics has chosen to move the funds to another budget line and say that they're not there. So now you're a fighter for the aid(should be aide), lunch lady and maintenance worker? I thought everybody was hurting and should be happy to have a job? Maybe you should change your mantra to " Those who can -- do. Those who can't -- just sit around and complain about things on their computer all day". Get a life. Maybe YOU should have done more to prepare yourself and your son for life. But with you it's always someone else's fault.

I believe that one of the most harmful things that has occurred over the past few years within our society has been a steady loss of respect for the work that our neighbors do. Some of the comments here in regard to my profession have saddened me and some of the retorts of my co-workers have embarrassed me for my profession. I don’t understand why it has to be this way.

I am sure at one time or another we all feel unappreciated and misunderstood and by our bosses, co-workers and the general public. With that being said, I don’t understand why the common, middle-class worker has chosen to turn his venom upon his neighbor. I am a high school teacher and I feel that not many people can do what I do in my job. I believe that there is an art to being a teacher, and there is a lot of work that goes into being a teacher that many people may fail to consider. I also understand, though, that the job of teacher does not have the “market cornered” on extra work and unpaid hours. Every job certainly has unpleasant aspects that the general public does not see and employees that put in extra work because they take pride in the work that they do.

With that being said, I also know that I could not be a police officer, or work for the Department of Public Works, or be a letter carrier, or be a computer programmer, or work within the corporate world (the list actually goes on and on). All of these occupations possess a skill set that does not work to my strengths. I respect the work that my neighbors do and I understand that we need each of these people working together to make Harford County a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I would never challenge a person “to come in and do what I do for a day” because, while I am proud of the work that I do each day, I am petrified that you might offer me the same challenge. I also would never begrudge any of you the opportunity to seek an increase in salary. The reality of the situation is that none of us are the ones who are getting rich. Most of us are trying to raise a family, maybe take a vacation each year and put away a little bit of money for college and retirement. No one is lighting cigars with $100 bills and hiding our millions in off shore accounts. We all basically want the same thing.

Why can’t we respect the work our neighbor does, and take pride in the work that we do? Why does it have to be a battle and a competition? It isn’t a competition. It doesn’t need to be a witch hunt where we all examine each other in a quest to find the flaw in our neighbors and the cracks in their professions. It can be a place of mutual respect where those in both the public and private sector recognize the work that we are all doing. When that begins to happen there will be a much stronger dialogue and sense of a shared and stronger community.

Thank you john smith. I am not a teacher I am a wife of a teacher. And I think all you haters out there judging, pointing fingers and being JEALOUS!!! Need to back off and appreciate that these educators are helping YOUR kids succeed in life. If you hate them so much and think their greedy, selfish and ignorant then keep your kids home or send them else where. You don't know what they do day in and day out so until you do who are you to judge!!! I support all the teachers and think 100% they deserve it.

When all is said and done there is one issue that has not been resolved. Why was the original contract Not honored ?

Mike, David Craig said there was not enough money in the budget.