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After negotiating for more than a year with the college administration over a collective bargaining agreement, the adjunct professors at Montgomery College have secured a contract for a modest pay increase and firmer job security.

The adjuncts agreed to the contract Nov. 13, said Victoria A. Baldassano, a Montgomery College adjunct professor for four years and member of the collective bargaining team.

The deal still must be ratified by the college's board of trustees, which is expected to vote on the contract at its Dec. 14 meeting.

The adjunct professors previously had reached an impasse with the college administration over a contract after school officials had agreed to give the part-timers more hours, but at the same pay rate.

The professors and the administrators were scheduled to meet with a fact-finder Dec. 1, but sat down with a mediator instead to reach an agreement.

Last week's deal includes a modest pay increase for the part-time faculty. An adjunct who teaches six credit hours will receive a lump sum payment of $121 in addition to their regular pay and those who teach 10 credit hours will get roughly $200, Baldassano said.

The contract also creates committees to review and come up with recommendations for addressing pay inequity between full-time and part-time faculty. Under the deal, the committees will explore health insurance options for the adjunct professors, according to a statement from the Service Employees International Union, which represents the adjuncts.

"I'm really happy overall that we came to the agreement," Baldassano added. "The value of this contract is not so much in the money, but now we've got the power to bargain with management over pay rates and all these other important issues."

Montgomery College adjunct professors are paid up to $880 per credit hour, while full-time professors are paid up to $3,038 per credit hour. College classes typically are three credit hours.

The recent action is the latest in a saga that began in February 2008, when the adjuncts considered unionizing. Montgomery College officials then circulated a memo trying to discourage the adjuncts from forming a union.

The college administration questioned whether the adjunct professors were considered public employees under state law. The part-timers voted to be represented by the SEIU, and that vote was upheld by the state's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

In a statement, interim college President Hercules Pinkney said he looks forward to strengthening the school's partnership with its 900 adjunct professors. The college has 580 full-time professors.

"It takes the talent and dedication of the entire Montgomery College community — part-time and full-time faculty, staff and administrators — to achieve our mission of changing students' lives," Pinkney said in a statement.

Education Committee meeting

The County Council's Education Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday to discuss the school system's construction plan for fiscal 2011, which begins July 1.

During the meeting, the committee is expected to vote on Superintendent Jerry D. Weast's construction plan, which includes the expansion of nine schools and the building of two new schools.

The meeting will take place in the seventh-floor conference room at the Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. Call 240-777-7900, or go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov for more information.

Central office shifts

With the retirement of Stephen L. Bedford, the school system's chief school performance officer, nearing, the central office is adapting by shifting positions.

Bedford's retirement is effective Dec. 1.

Frank H. Stetson, the community superintendent for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Walter Johnson, Wheaton and Whitman clusters, will serve as the acting chief school performance director.

Stetson will be replaced by Community Superintendent Sean W. Bulson, who is currently the director of school performance for the Northwest, Poolesville, Quince Orchard and Seneca Valley clusters.

A replacement for Bulson is under consideration, according to the school system.