Liz, I greatly appreciate that you keep the citizens informed regarding BCPS. Thank you.

Liz, please proofread! Really poorly stated.

"All excessed teachers who is put back into a school because there aren't places for them elsewhere ...."

Over time I have observed that the supposed factual reporting by the Sun has proven to be based less on fact and more on misinterpretation and a dsire for sensationalism. I am constantly amazed on how little reporting is done about school systems' successes throughout the year and how much is done sporadically on only the topics that can be given those attention grabbing banner headlines on such things as state test scores going down, cheating scandals or budget issues. While these topics definitely need scrutiny, the reporting also appears to fall short on facts and accuracy.

Case in point is the explanation of " overstaffed". Overstaffed, Ms. Bowie, means that a teacher does not have a position currently available in their certification area. The teacher will be assigned in an overstaffed capacity at a school where they can provide additional support and assistance until such time as a position in their certification area becomes available. And, Ms. Bowie, a teacher is not "yanked" to fill just any vacancy. What you also fail to explain is that these teachers are being retained and not laid off, that they can provide additional assistance to students, that they can fill in as substitutes and are readily available during the school year to replace a teacher within their area of certification who has to leave.

I appreciate your attention to the education field but if you're going to tell the story, make sure you understand the processes and you're giving all the information. I would also like to hear from you during the year on all the great things being accomplished by our teachers, students and school systems. And, Ms. Bowie, there's a lot going on that is news worthy.

I am amazed at how people think that writing on a blog and writing for a newspaper article are essentially the same thing.

Everyone complains about misinformation and false reports. A Blog is used to convey ones thoughts and opinion regardless if it is on a newspaper website.

Get with the times people and please realize the difference between a blog and a newspaper article.

Concerned Observer, you MUST be related to someone with the school board or Joe.
If teachers in BCPS did not have such wonderful accomplishments, Liz wouldn't be going to bat for us, the students, and parents as strongly as she is. I have been with the system for decades and remember BCPS when it was a gem in this country and was highly respected by school systems throughout the country. The business of the school system is to educate students. You cannot do that when you cut teaching positions and increase class size. You obviously have never been in a classroom or were not in one for very long or you would understand exactly what Liz has been reporting about this past school year and it now seems, throughout next year as well. Diane83

Concerned observer you seem to be missing the point of the blog. The fact is that instead of cutting positions outside the classroom, the superintendent decided to cut teaching positions which directly impact the students in the classroom.

I have been teaching in Baltimore County for thirteen years and have yet to see anyone at Greenwood impact my job in a positive way. So the so called support they provide is non-existent, and therefore should be the first to be cut.

What Liz has never mentioned is the fact that maybe the Superintendent cut teaching positions as a way to get back at the teachers union which made him back down on AIM.

You also need to read the Sun more closely as there are a lot of positive articles about both school systems.

Power pitcher

Read the article PSHE. Information is information and a blog can disseminate misinformation as easily as a newspaper article. In this case and in others Ms. Bowie has missed the mark of factual reporting or blogging if you prefer

@concerned observer

I think the term factual blogging is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Concerned observer - you don't get it. I definitely agree with Diane83 - you obviously have no working knowledge of the business of teaching. The central office is indeed bloated along with the support services. Yes - excessed teachers have jobs - for now. When you move hs teachers into middle schools there are two problems. 1 - teaching middle school is an entirely different ballgame. In addition, most of the middle schools that are taking on the excessed teachers are already failing and are filled with challenging kids, families ...etc. The "good" schools have no openings. 2 - in many cases those excessed teachers were already struggling - why else would principals let them go? So - you take a struggling teacher out of their comfort zone and put them in a more difficult job. Result - larger class sizes in the high school and poor instruction in the middle school.