The Board of Education of Frederick County (Board) has reached a tentative agreement with all three employee bargaining units: the Frederick County Association of School Support Employees (FASSE), the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA), and the Frederick County Administrative and Supervisory Association (FCASA). This marks the third year in a row in which negotiations with all three bargaining units have concluded nearly simultaneously and prior to the start of a new fiscal year.
Each association has obtained ratification by their membership and the new negotiated agreements were signed at the June 25, 2025, Board meeting. Language for the three tentative agreements becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Across all three associations, the following applies:
- Salary resource pool equivalent to 2% on average cost of living increase applied to the entire scale, no step.
- 4.5% increase to the Medical/RX/Vision insurance premium.
- 1.5% increase to Dental Premiums.
- No change to Co-Pays for Medical, RX, Vision or Dental Plans.
- FSA Health max. limit increased to $3,300 and the FSA Health carryover max. increased to $660.
- Aligns language across bargaining units for Family Crisis Leave Bank including clarified eligibility (e.g., catastrophic illness of immediate family), maximum usage (60 days per 3 years), and intermittent leave handling.
In reaching these agreements, Board President Rae Gallagher said, “The Board is grateful for successfully securing agreements with our three associations. We deeply appreciate the dedication of our staff and the collaborative nature that is the foundation of our partnership, especially with current budgetary restraints. Special thanks to our association partners, lead negotiators, and Chief of Staff for the collective work to complete our negotiations process. We are thankful for the continued support from County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, County Council President Brad Young, the full County Council, and all local government members who facilitated our joint efforts. On behalf of the Board of Education, we express our gratitude for this collective achievement for the benefit of FCPS and our community.”
Frederick Association of School Support Employees (FASSE)
Karren Sowell, FASSE President, shared, “We are delighted to announce the successful conclusion of negotiations and the presentation of a tentative agreement to the FASSE members for ratification. Through collaborative efforts, various issues were brought forward, discussed, and effectively resolved. This agreement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of both bargaining teams during these difficult economic times.”
Highlights of the agreement include:
- Transfers (Article 3): Process simplified and streamlined for employees desiring a voluntary lateral transfer.
- Health and Safety (Article 3): Employees provided additional safeguards regarding workplace safety and related notifications.
- Sick Leave (Article 6): Employees required to provide sick leave documentation for four (4) or more consecutive days of sick leave use.
- Negotiation Procedures (Article 9): Negotiations will continue to begin by December 1 with the development of annual ground rules, including proposal deadlines and flexibility for mutual additions.
This contract will remain in effect until June 30, 2026. A full contract review will occur for FY27.
Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA)
“This year, the full contract was open for negotiations, so a significant amount of time was spent on language items in addition to salary and benefits, which are negotiated annually,” explained FCTA President Missy Dirks. “We are pleased to have worked with the Board of Education’s team to bring improvements to several areas of the contract, including the transfer process, educator work time to prepare for the start of the school year, and middle/elementary planning time. However, the tentative agreement was accepted by the membership by the smallest margin in at least 10 years—only 61%—largely due to the lack of a real salary enhancement, with no step and only a 2% COLA, which does not keep up with the actual cost of living. Given the limited funding the Board of Education faces, we came to this settlement, but this is not sustainable if we want to retain the best educators here in Frederick County.”
Highlights of the agreement include:
- Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Article XXXVII): Adoption of a Teacher Career Ladder up through Level 4 effective July 1, 2025.
- This includes Maintenance of Certification (MOC) for National Board Certified (NBC) teachers of a $4,000 salary enhancement for the first successful MOС (previously negotiated), $1,750 salary enhancement for the second MOC, and $1,500 for the third MOC. These enhancements are compounding.
- Educators who hold an NBC but do not qualify for the MSDE definition of teacher will receive a $2,000 salary enhancement for the first successful MOC, $1,250 salary enhancement for the second MOC, and $1,000 for the third MOC.
- Work Days (Article V): 10-month special educators will receive nine additional work days in FY26.
- Time and Workload (Articles V and VII): Adjusted pre-service teacher workdays based on calendar length; increased guaranteed weekly planning time for elementary and middle school teachers; and added limits on the number of course preparations for secondary teachers, with flexibility for specialized cases.
- Compensation Enhancements (Articles VI and XXIII): Conditional teachers now receive step increases without credit minimums if the bargaining unit receives a step; frequency of salary lane changes increased from 2 to 3 times per year.
- Leave Policy Updates (Article XXV): Automatic Sick Leave Bank enrollment for new hires starting July 1, 2025, with opt-out provision; clarified usage of Sick Leave Bank, including clearer limits and expanded flexibility for leave donations and intermittent use.
- Transfers (XV): Vacancy-posting calendar moved from February to June to new dates of March to June; positions will be advertised during vacancy-posting calendar until filled; involuntary transfers will be placed in new assignments prior to the voluntary transfer process opening with a job category; and Right of Return for teachers who are involuntary transferred but the same position/school for an appropriate vacancy becomes available through July 15.
- Employee Assignments (Article XVI): Reasonable attempts to limit secondary teachers to no more than 3 separate preparations.
- Reimbursement for Education Expenses (Article XXIII): When charter school teachers are required by the governing or administrative leadership requires professional development specific to the charter school, the charter school shall be responsible for all associated costs.
- Multilingual Education Program (MEP) Teacher Study Committee (Article VII): A joint committee will study the current duties and responsibilities of teachers assigned to the MEP; non-binding recommendations to be made to the Superintendent no later than February 1, 2026.
- Negotiation Procedures (Article XXXVIII): Negotiations will continue to begin by December 1 with the development of annual ground rules, including proposal deadlines and flexibility for mutual additions.
This contract would remain in effect until June 30, 2028, with the limited openers including Salary, Benefits, items related to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future law to be negotiated in the next 2 years. A full contract review will occur for FY29.
Frederick County Administration and Supervisory Association (FCASA)
CASA President, Danny Rumpf said, “The Frederick County Administrative and Supervisory Association is appreciative of the work done during negotiations. Even though it was another tough budget year, we were able to reach an agreement. Thank you to the Board of Education for continuing to work towards the interest of all involved with FCPS.”
Highlights of the agreement include:
- Flex Work Hours (Article VI): Unit members may occasionally flex work hours for personal needs with prior supervisor approval; FCPS retains the right to deny if patterns suggest overuse.
- Professional Development (article XV): Unit members may attend a training/conference at least once every 3 years (previously 4 years), with supervisor approval; funding caps determined annually by the Board in consultation with FCASA.
- Personal Life (Article XV): New language affirms that administrators' personal lives are not a concern of the Board unless they affect work performance.
- Negotiation Procedures (Article II): Negotiations will now begin by December 1 (moved earlier from January 1) with the development of annual ground rules, including proposal deadlines and flexibility for mutual additions.
This contract will remain in effect until June 30, 2026, with yearly openers on salary and items related to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. A full contract review will occur for FY27.
