Maryland educators eye better pay following Baltimore County deal

Teachers, their unions and school systems across the state are taking note of the deal to give Baltimore County gives teachers a raise as they consider their own local education systems. Baltimore County’s $76 million compensation package plan looks to improve teacher pay and increase teacher retention rates, officials said. Educators in other counties are weighing what Baltimore County’s pact could mean for them. “What other counties do always has an impact, because we pull from the same job pool of candidates,” said Melissa Dirks, president of the Frederick County Teachers Association. “Being competitive not just with other counties in the state of Maryland, but southern Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia is crucial, because we’re all competing for the same high-quality teachers.”