Quality Education Issue #2- Teacher's salaries/benefits are now very much in line and or surpassing what is normal in the business world today. (5% raises annually, wonderful health benefits and pensions). I credit society for finally valuing their position but hope that the teachers are realistic enough to know that you cannot always go to the well repeatedly. I say this knowing that I have a sign in my garage supporting the teachers during the strike in 1990 (1991?). If they really want better facilities then they had better be willing to compromise...better classrooms or a raise.
The candidates respond:
Terry Fielden
I agree that raises of 5% are beyond a reasonable expectation in the business world today. However, part of the reason that the teachers have such a good pension program is that they really don’t make enough money to invest and save as someone in the business world. The job is well paying but may not offer the opportunity for additional income that a business world job may offer. I think that there is room for debate and concession all the way around. They play a vital role in education and the longer time served at a school then the better they should be at their jobs.
We should really be matching ourselves against other Districts that have similar goals and academic achievements. Teachers should be compensated in line with those Districts so that they cannot be enticed to move assuming that they meet the quality education standards of our District. It is a union position however; there is still the potential for mobility. So, we need to draw a reasonable balance on the issue to maintain our teachers and keep our standards high.
However, the quality of the facilities is more about the students. The facilities also need to be upgraded from time to time to ensure a sound educational teaching basis. The facility upgrades will not improve the teacher’s ability to “teach better” but it will allow the students better tools with which to learn. So I would not hold the facility issue as bargaining chip with the teachers. If they are paid well in the first place, how much motivation is there to leave based on the facilities? I think that teachers stay stay based on the pay scale and the District’s overall willingness to push educational excellence.
(Additional Comments Here)
Mike Jaensch
I agree that our teachers’ salaries are competitive and that we need to keep them competitive. I don’t believe that somehow tying their salaries to needed improvements and renovations helps in any way. In my mind, any monies spent on facilities should be done to improve the education opportunities for the STUDENTS, not for the teachers. Sure they will also enjoy better science labs, better classrooms, more room, etc., but in my mind, this is about the kids, and any renovations and improvements need to keep that in mind.
Suzyn Price
Our teacher salary increase was 5.2% by contract, agreed upon in 2005. We benchmark our teacher salaries with 6 similar unit districts. This past contract put our teachers near the top of our benchmark districts, but certainly not out of range. The 2005 contract negotiations were troubling for many reasons and we need to address a new method of negotiating where we don't go until 1 AM the morning before school starts. Having a respectful, trusting relationship with our education professionals does not mean capitulating to demands. I hope we can prove to the community that we have changed our relationship and have kept in mind their concerns.
Keep in mind, however, that we have four bargaining units and administrative staff who make up our district. We have to look at all of our contracts, benchmarking with appropriate school districts or industries. And for 2006/07 our total staff costs increased 2.4%. So while an individual teacher may have seen an increase of 5.2% in their salary (1.75% of which is a yearly step increase), our total staff cost only went up 2.4%. This is largely because of attrition: when an experience employee retires, their replacement earns a lesser salary. I think that number is as significant as individual increases, and it gets less play.