“Sabotage” isn’t typically a word you hear when discussing surveys and school budgets, but that’s what’s suspected in Howard County, Maryland. The district sent out a survey to parents seeking input about options for covering a $50 million gap in the school budget. Within a couple hours of sending out the survey link it was taken offline, preventing parents from completing the survey. School officials soon were forwarded a copy of an email from the teacher’s union president urging members to not take the survey, but instead click a link on the survey email or web site to report it as “abuse.” A few clicks on these buttons typically don’t trigger any action by survey providers, but after a large number of reports in a short period of time, automated systems typically suspend accounts until the abuse can be investigated.
Was the district wrong for the survey questions? Was the union wrong for their tactics? Comment below
The union claims that the survey is an illegal unfair business practice because it includes questions that present potential budget solutions such as renegotiating the teachers’ health benefit fund, which would violate the union contract. The district sees nothing wrong with asking the public for input on solving the budget shortfall.
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UPDATE 5/24/2016: The results are in with responses from 1,104 community members, parents and school employees. 68% of respondents were parents who do not work at the district, 16% were employees without children in the district, and 9% were employees with children in the district.
The top four proposed cuts chosen by more than 75% of respondents were to buyer purchasing, the central office’s telephone system, district employees’ attendance at conferences, and a diversity coordinator position that has been proposed but not yet filled.
The four least-preferred cuts, selected by less than 38 percent of respondents, were to outdoor education; technology teachers; instructional materials; and field trips.
What's your view?