On March 7, according to a letter from three PGCPS school board members to County Executive Rushern Baker, “several members of the central office were given massive unauthorized pay increases.” The letter notes that these salary increases, ranging from at least 10%-12%, had to have been authorized by the PGCPS CEO, Dr. Kevin Maxwell or a member of his executive cabinet.

The three board members who listed the allegations in the letter – Edward Burroughs, David Murray, and Raaheela Ahmed – were among the board members who proposed an amendment that, if passed, would have increased teacher pay in Prince George’s County by 4%. The teacher pay increase, however, was rejected, which raises concerns from school teachers who have expressed they feel of lesser importance than central office members.

According to Fox 5, the alleged raises had not only occurred, but central office members including Dr. Maxwell, school board chair Segun Eubanks, and the assistant superintendent had learned about the pay raises mid-February.

In the Fox 5 interview, Prince George’s County Public Schools parent Phyllis Wright, expressed frustration with those in charge, saying “We need to get them out of here and pay our teachers so our kids can have a productive education.”

According to Fox 5, the recipient of the letter, County Executive Rushem Baker, commented that the pay raise issue was being dealt with internally. In response to parents calling for the superintendent’s resignation, he said “Just because you hit a turbulence doesn’t mean it’s time to throw the pilot off the plane.”