Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-08-16


and seven have transferred sir
workers who've taken jobs in
other jobs within the main off
Other signs of employee un-
rest are these:
/. The secretaries have chosen
a five-woman committee to dis
cuss personnel problems.
2. Workers are making such
comments as everyone is un-
happy" and morale is bad"
3. One department head says
there is more confusion" among
employees than usual.
DR.. Norris Blamed
At least one worker blames the
turnover on dislike for School
Superintendent Forbes H. Norris.
II don't think DR.. Norris is a
popular person." states the en-
ployee. Under the late Super
intendent Edwin w. Broome the
workers at the Board of Educa-
ton were one big happy family,
according to the employee. with
DR.. Norris everything is big bus.
mess" the person says.
DR.. Norris thinks some EN-.
ployee unhappiness stems from
low pay. He says the county has
violated a "gentlemen's agree
ment" to pay county clerical
workers the same salaries as
school clerical help. The super
intendent says county employees
were given a last-minute 4 per-
cent raise this year, keeping their
a percent above Board of Educa-
ton salaries.
{ The Superintendent says some
married women are transferring
from central office jobs to school
jobs because of better hours.
School employees are usually
through work about pm. daily
while central office workers toll
to 5 pm. School workers are
off two months during the sum.
mer though they make about the
same salaries as 12-month central
office workers. School employees
are off for long Christmas va
cation and number of holidays
while main office personnel
work.
Classification Coming
T Employee morale will further
improve in November, DR.. Nor.
ris believes, when personnel chief
James Prince presents to the
School Board proposed person
mel plans and policies" including
a new job classification schedule.
Board of Education employees
are presently ranked according to
the county's classification, says
DR.. Norris.
DR.. Norris blames the high
turnover in one department -
purchasing, where three of four
workers have recently quit or
transferred on the burden of
responsibility resulting from the
failure of the School Board to
appoint a new Purchasing OF.
ficer.
1 DR.. Norris SCOTS at the com.
plant of some workers that they
have never been informed what
salary they are paid. Every de.
partment head has copy of the
salary scales"
One department head says the
personnel problems may be a re
suit of the reorganization now
taking place in the Board of Ed
ucation. Following many of the
recommendations of the manage
ment consultant firm of McKin
sey and Company, the Schoo
Board is hiring a number of new
administrative officials and nint
new clerical workers.
Mrs. Dorothy Dawson, secre
tary to DR.. Norris and head o
the five-woman committee say
the quintette was formed to fint
out why I'VE were losing so man,
valuable people,"
, So far low pay and overworI
seem to be the main reasons 70
high personnel turnover, sh
says.
T. Agency Losses Feared
4 Were worried now" say
Mrs. Dawson, because we'r
probably going to lose more girl
to the new government agencie
moving to the county"
Other members of the commit
tee are Barbara Coleman, Mrs
Dora Reno, Mrs. Elsie Mirriman
and Mrs. Mary Watson.
The committee plans to put on
a handbook for new clerical help
says Mrs. Dawson. The book viii
welcome new workers and outlin
Board of Education organization
and policies.