Relax, I am sure everything is proper and above-board. After all, in this time of teacher positions being eliminated, the County would not be over-paying an administrator, would they? You should have gone directly to Dr. Hairston, he is normally so forthcoming with answers to questions.

Move along folks, there is nothing to see here. Dr. Joe Hairston will be sure to tell us all when something happens that we need to know about. This administrator's salary clearly does not meet that threshold. Of course, Dr. Joe Hairston has proven that he is an honorable, forthcoming, and ethical leader that we can all depend on.

[/end sarcasm] More of the same from Greenwood under the leadership of Joe. Enough is enough. Joe gotta go!

I wonder how fast the news is going to come out that 12-24 teachers in BCPS high schools (on average) are being cut? Certainly not fast enough for parents to get up in arms about classes sizes of over 40 students. Ms. Bowie, is this something you can take a look into?

Can anyone really be surprised? The lack of honesty and transparency that characterizes the current mode of operation in Baltimore County Public Schools has been on display for all to see over the past year. It is so discouraging that we face difficult decisions about cuts to education while money freely flows to the friends of the current administration. How much does the superintendent get including all his perks and packages? How much money is approved to further the economic advantages of being a company's consultant and a personal friend of the administration? I hope that the next superintendent sets a clear vision of promise, hope, and excellence!

You're right "Disgusted." Thirty nine (total) postitions cut from 3 NE high schools Eastern Tech, Kenwood and Parkville. Thanks Joe.

Strange, searching "rules and policies" on the website with the search term salary yeilds 23 results.... none of which seem to prevent the county from being transparent about a high level hire's salary.

Just one more case of BCPS failing in it's civic duty.

In terms of your basic premise, you are correct. Dr. Hairston should not be hiding salaries from public record and delaying the inevitable for 30 plus days simply because he may not like or have any respect for you. You have, however, brought this on yourself. This is in no way an excuse for the way "Joe" conducts himself. I do not believe there is any argument that he falls far short of the behavior which is expected from a professional at this level and which we see on a daily basis from top school superintendents in the State such as Dr. Alonso and Dr. Weast. Had you not been known in educational circles as someone that chooses to emphasize the negative in all that is educational, the information might have been received by now.

The concern over Ms Foose's salary is a non-issue in terms of the overall system budget. The average range of salary for someone in her position in a school system the size of Baltimore County is in the 160-180K range. Hardly an amount that will result in mass teacher layoffs, overcrowded classrooms or any of the doom and gloom that you imply in your writing. You need to get a grip on reality. Be glad "Joe" hired somebody from a school system that is successful and knows how to get business done and accentuate the positive for a change.

That's really special. So when Baltimore County hired a Montgomery County administrator they took a little of MCPS with the deal.

Not only do news organizations in Montgomery County have to wait 30 days for salary information, they also have to pay for it! Public information isn't free in MCPS.

MCPS will withhold public information until 5:00 PM - 30 days after a request is made just to waste time. And taxpayers pay for that foolishness.
MCPS has also been known to hold onto requests for 50+ days. State law means nothing. Even when the documents are normal documents that are part of the daily business operation.

The Maryland public information law actually doesn't say that the information requested can be held extra long if the agency doesn't "like" the person that makes the request.

It's called PUBLIC INFORMATION because any member of the PUBLIC has a right to the information.

So, the Old Man of Education calls Ms. Foose's salary a "non-issue?" Then, why the delay and difficulty in obtaining public information that is a non-issue? I guess that it is also a "non-issue" in these tough economic times that Dr. Hairston is the highest paid superintendent in the state! It must also be a "non-issue" that Dr. Hairston has chosen this time to split the deputy superintendent position into two paid positions when all BCPS schools are being forced to excess many teachers!

By the way Old Man of Education, what is your reasoning that MCPS is successful and knows how to get business done? I do not mean to offend any employees of MCPS, I am just curious as to why the Old Man of Education would make a statement like that that begs for support and fail to provide any.