HCPSSHCPSS & HCEA Reach a Tentative Agreement
April 9th, 2025
The Howard County Board of Education and Howard County Education Association (HCEA) announced a tentative agreement. The agreement for the FY 2026 school year follows five months of negotiations and addresses many pressing needs, including employee compensation, healthcare, and retention. It also improves compensation for Special Educators and Related Service Providers to address the ongoing crisis in recruiting and retaining Special Educators.
“I am very pleased to have come to an agreement that prioritizes the needs of the teachers and support staff who are essential to the successful outcomes of students,” said HCEA President Benjamin Schmitt. “We believe this agreement will provide stability and predictability at a time of growing economic concern and uncertainty. Of course, in negotiations, it isn’t everything we hoped for, but it’s an important step forward—one we believe will help us meet the challenges ahead, while ensuring that Howard County students continue to receive an excellent education.”
“On behalf of the Board of Education, I am grateful for the tireless efforts of HCEA and HCPSS leadership to negotiate on behalf of all of our educators,” said Board of Education Chair Jolene Mosley. “Throughout our operating budget deliberations, the Board continually prioritizes decisions that result in the greatest outcomes for students and staff. The input and guidance of our bargaining units is critical to the decision making of the Board, and I am grateful for HCEA and their negotiation team collaborating so closely with Superintendent Barnes and his leadership team on behalf of HCEA members and the Board of Education.”
“Our tremendous staff continue to be the greatest asset we have to ensure that HCPSS is a great school system for every student we serve,” said HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes. “HCEA President Ben Schmitt is a proven advocate for his members, and the school system benefits greatly from his efforts and that of his leadership team. The Board of Education continually elevates students and staff at the forefront of their decisions, and this tentative agreement will additionally serve in many ways as a collaborative understanding of the priorities of the system.”
The next step for HCEA members is to ratify the agreement. Member voting will be open from April 9-23.
The FY 2026 Operating Budget is still under development. The County Executive is expected to present his budget on Monday, April 14, and the County Council will adopt their final budget on Wednesday, May 21. At that point, the Board of Education will have a clear understanding of the amount of funding available for FY 2026 and will finalize their operating budget.
More information on the FY 2026 Operating Budget process may be found on the HCPSS website.