Stephanie Rawlings-Blake - Spin Doctor

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and associated politicians are scrambling to cut their budget ahead of the expected massive cuts in aid expected from the State, compliments of Martin O'Malley and his failed budget policy.

This weekend Baltimore City offered what they are spinning as Early Teacher Retirement for veteran teachers. What is the definition of a veteran teacher in the Baltimore City Public School system? According to them it is 10 years. I'm actually surprised. Surprised that anyone would work in a city school for 10 years. A retiring teacher would be eligible for 75% of their salary for 5 years.

I'm not following the logic too well. If they can get a bunch of "old" teachers to retire (and some could be as old as 32!), they will continue to pay them for another 5 years, albeit at only 75%. And in return they get them out of the building and in 5 years they don't have to pay them anymore. Uhhh........ What a great return on investment. I think. What?

The Baltimore City School system claims it will save about $10 million in the first year. I would assume that's the 25% reduction in salary. In exchange for 100% less work. Are you following me?

This morning on television, Mayor Rawlings-Blake was trying to put some positive spin on it, was stumbling and doing a terrible job of it. She said that every year there are a bunch of new teachers that they need to provide opportunities to and this is a good way to provide those opportunities. I'm serious. She really said this. You can't make up stuff this good.

For those of us who didn't go to Baltimore City schools, we know this is the opposite spin of firing highly paid teachers and hiring lesser paid teachers in order to save money.

This whole thing is a mess. As one of my colleagues reminded me - remember when Baltimore City Public Schools had to borrow money because they "lost" millions of dollars? But the good news is they paid it back. You know. With all that revenue they generate by being a free public school. But I digress.