Part-time college faculty still pressing for equal pay

The state has not set a timetable for its decision on whether to allow Montgomery College’s part-time faculty to hold an election for union representation.

Part-time teachers have rallied to be paid at the same rate as full-time faculty. Also in question is whether the part-timers pare considered public employees under Maryland law. According to the law, a public employee at the college is one who is appointed by the Board of Trustees but does not determine policy. Student assistants are also not considered public employees under state law.

Part-time teachers cannot be considered professional employees under state law because they do not teach at 12 credit hours, Montgomery College officials said.

Last month, the college determined that the part-time faculty members are not public employees, for the purpose of collective bargaining.

In February, roughly half the college’s 900 adjunct faculty members filled out ballots to show support for electing the SEIU Local 500 as their representative.

If DeJuliis verifies the ballots, the adjunct faculty will hold a formal election. DLLR would determine how the vote would be conducted and when it would be.

Adjunct faculty members are paid up to $880 per credit hour while full-time teachers are paid up to $3,038 per credit hour, said Victoria A. Baldassano, an adjunct professor and a member of the college’s union organizing committee. College classes are typically three credit hours.

In a letter to part-time faculty, college administrators said unionization would not be best for faculty and students. Part-time faculty got an 8 percent salary increase this school year, the letter said.

‘‘Unionization would almost necessarily standardize the treatment of this [adjunct] population, which could result in difficulties with the assignment and scheduling of classes, not to mention possible difficulties involving full-time faculty relationships,” the letter said.

School board: MandatingP.E. a bad idea

Students need more time for physical education, but it should be up to local boards of education — not lawmakers — to expand the curriculum, school board President Nancy Navarro wrote in a letter to County Council members Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac and Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring.

On March 20, Berliner and Ervin wrote a letter to the school board expressing concern over the lack of physical activity in county schools. The Montgomery system offers a minimum of 30 minutes per week of physical education in its elementary schools, among the lowest in the state, according to data from the state Department of Education.

A bill, proposed by Del. Jay Walker (D-Dist. 26) of Fort Washington and crossfiled by Sen. David Harrington (D-Dist. 47) of Cheverly, would have required all 24 Maryland school districts to provide 150 minutes of physical activity each week for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. But lawmakers in Annapolis instead approved a task force to examine the amount of gym time students receive.

The board applauded the bill’s intent, but voted in late February to oppose Walker’s legislation.

‘‘Staff has made the case that scheduling physical education, as well as art and music, into the instructional day is difficult in an era of expanding academic accountability,” Navarro wrote in the April 3 letter.

The school board plans to hold a worksession on how to increase physical activity. Also included in the discussion will be how to extend art and music into the curriculum, Navarro wrote.

The worksession has not been scheduled.

Scholarships forstate employees

The State Employees’ Credit Union is looking to give 15 college scholarships — ranging from $500 to $5,000 — to its members and their immediate family.

Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted by a college, university, trade or technical school. High school seniors are also eligible, as long as they are accepted by a school before July 2. Students also must have at least a 2.5 grade point average and submit a report card or record of academic grades with their application.

To apply, send a 750 to 1,000-word essay on one of the following topics:

What can a financial institution do to encourage people to save?

Write a one-page letter to elected officials explaining why completing a certified financial education course should be a graduation requirement in Maryland public schools.

What is the biggest financial challenge facing young adults? Explain and provide a solution.

E-mail the essay and records to Natasha.Brown@SecuMd.com or mail them to SECU Credit Union, ATTN: Natasha Brown, 971 Corporate Blvd., Linthicum MD 21090. Deadline is May 16.