Teachers' pay

[bobm]

Our small town school district has a poulation of 17,500 +/- residents. The State of Washington Supreme Court has issued a mandate for our State to adequately fund for student education from kindergarden through high school. The legislature has a very hard time in raising enough tax money to do so. Our school district has over 800 certified teachers according to their union. The teachers contract had exired on Aug. 30 of this year , so as usual, they just started negotiations last night at the most vulnerable time for parents in case of a strike. At the top of the list is increase number of days of " Time responsiblity and Incentive" increased pay. as well as to add aditional councelors/ psycologists at each school. We already have one of the highest property tax rates in the State and my wife and I haven't had an increase in pay in 6 years ( including all Federal Workers ) as well as all of our neighbors. Several have had pay cuts, some layed off / lost their jobs. Our school district can barely pay their bills. The "Columbian " Vancouver's blatently liberal newspaper never mentions what the teachers' salaries are or what this time responsibility and incentive pay is , not even what the teachers are asking for an increase in pay. The liberals are all clamering to increase the minimal wage to $15/ hour which translates for the rest of us to take a pay cut in the form of increase in our daily living expenses. So ... are we to open up our credit cards to pay for the teachers' increased demands at 20-29% interest that we CAN"T afford ??? My wife just audited a husband ( teaches at a community college with a salary of $ 180,000/ year )and wife ( 5th grade teacher , $ 104,000 / year at a nearby similar school district) . Each of them have 3 outside businesses run out of their home, and when they filed their State and Federal income taxes, the combined 6 "businesses" haven't maded a profit in 5-6 years but they each took the business deductions that were the same for each of the 6 businesses as expenses. ( ie. same $$$s x 6= total business expenses as a write off to lower their income taxes) . To be considered a business ... a business has to show a profit in 2 out of 5 years. This couples' " business" activities were found to be hobby loss activities and all deductions were denied and back taxes plus penalties assessed and interest applied. You would be surprised as to the numbers of teachers, insurance and real estate sales people, and small wanna be farmers are being audited and denied as hobby loss activity for similar "business deductions" . So, can some of you enlighten us as to what are the teacher's pay at an average school district is since the teacher pay is such a secret and the teachers are claiming that they are underpaid ?

 

[Nyboy]

I have no idea what teachers make,but sure it is not nearly what it should be. I think they have one of the most important jobs there is. They are the ones who help change the future by changing their students lives. Strange how a man can hit a ball with a piece of wood and get paid millions, but someone working to educate has to fight for every nickel.

 

[Smart Red]

I, too, think teachers are underpaid for the time and expense they put into getting their education, however, my pay never came close to three digits -- maybe half that. I taught in a small, "country" school district and it seemed to me that we were always giving raise opportunities back to the district because of financial problems. Insurance and retirement didn't seem to suffer as much as salary did.

I was always amazed that I was given 30 of the most precious children to do with as I wished, but required to count paper clips and chalk.

 

[Smart Red]

Oh, and Wisconsin is one of the few(?) states that does not have a state-wide school board. Each school district is rather on its own (and the tax basis) as far as teacher salaries are concerned.

 

[dickiebird]

I usually don't reply to posts that are political (taxes are political to me), but school taxes are my biggest gripe.
Teachers salaries around here are, on average $60,000 a year, for 9 mos. spent in the classroom. The super makes $190,000 annually.
The district passed a $1,000,000 tax increase in 2014 and used the money for a sports field, quite an uproar over that!
In early 2015 the put another tax issue up and it was soundly defeated, they couldn't understand why, didn't people know they were in dire need of funds, and just forget about that last round of taxes, they don't really count because that went to facility improvement...Horse hockey!!!
In last weeks paper there was an article that they are buying each teacher their own laptop. The question was where is that money coming from...Oh they just happened to find $5,000,000 they forgot they had, but, get this the CFO made a statement to the paper they have another $16,000,000 in reserves, and that just too much money to let lie around.
My deal is I have NEVER attended any public school, and at my age I don't intend to start now.
Also any money I have is what I have I need to stretch til the end of life, which may be soon if they keep raising my taxes.

THANX RICH

 

[seedcorn]

In Indiana, max pay is mid 50's. Teachers that started in last 6 years are making $32,000 with no pay raise. Costs $80,000 for degree plus have to get masters-another $20,000. All for a $32,000 job-math doesn't work.
Here schools are financed with property taxes. Town people get breaks on houses, businesses don't pay, so AG stuck paying. Some counties at $75/acre.
Our ex-Governor stuck it to us...

 

[bobm]

Red, my wife has a BS college degree in Animal Sciences at U. of Cal. as well as going through accounting degree. She attends many many classes with exams to receive a new certification every year to keep up with the annual Tax Code changes. She teaches new hires for the IRS all over the country as well as conducts audits for businesses in several States. She as well as the great majority of Federal emplyees don't make anywhere as much as that 5th grade teacher. One of my daughter in laws has a Masters degree and works for the State in counceling college students. She does NOT make any where close to the $104,000 that that 5th grade teacher makes. One of my sister in law is a Registered Nurse with advanced degree in accounting and goes all over Cal to audit hospital billing practices. She doesn't make as much as that teacher. So your argument of cost of a teacher's education does not fly . Just another teacher union mantra to use to get public support when negotiating new contracts.

 

[journey11]

Teachers are paid about the same as law enforcement here and both are underpaid for what they have to deal with, IMO. The salary schedule for teachers in WV listed by county is available online. Range is $30,473 to $43,531, based on years of experience. A master's degree commands a little more, but not much. Given that the large majority of college grads are not getting paid enough to justify the huge debt they've incurred in student loans (assuming they are lucky enough to find a job within their chosen field), it makes no sense that they push college as the thing to do. Unless you are going into a profession like doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. My BIL went to work on the coal barges right out of high school, then got hired on with Toyota, manufacturing engines and transmissions for the past 15 years. He makes about $20,000 more a year than my DH who earned his master's degree. A real head-scratcher, that's for sure. Life ain't fair, it seems.

 

[seedcorn]

In Chicago, teachers that have long time experience make much more than down state but it costs about 3X more to live there. At $40,000 in Chicago, you will starve.

For those that don't understand a teachers life, go talk to one. It's not an 8-3 job with 3 months off in the summer-not even close.

 

[seedcorn]

Don't get me started on government workers with their total incompetence, benefits, etc....

My DD is being harassed by IRS because the IRS put her info on the wrong line. Took 2 months to talk to IRS because they only take calls 2 days a week-talk about being on hold. They admitted then that it was their mistake but 2 months later we are still waiting for them to fix it. Mean while she is getting letter threatening her with penalties and jail. Government workers are just lazy.
Old saying use to be those that couldn't, teach. Now it's get a government job.