Bruton High School teacher Benjamin Payson entered a master’s degree program in 2006, expecting to finish within two years and earn more money.
Instead, the Great Recession intervened. It became difficult to pay for the program, so Payson eventually took out student loans. He graduated in 2011 and earned $150 more per paycheck. His student loan payment is $193. Money has been so tight that when his father died last year, he could only afford a plane ticket for himself; his children had to miss their grandfather’s funeral.
“I can say advancing my education was a bad investment,” he said Monday when he spoke before the York County School Board at its regular meeting. Payson was one of 10 speakers who advocated for salary increases for York County Schools teachers and staff, who have had no salary raises or step increases on their pay grades in more than four years.
York Education Association President Carol Bauer outlined the top priorities for teachers, based on two surveys conducted last spring and this fall. The teachers want the School Board are to guarantee annual salary step movement and salary increases that are competitive; ensure professional treatment of employees; protect teachers’ time to teach and plan; and increase planning time.
Bauer called for a rehaul of the division’s pay scale, which she said is not equitable, doesn’t reward experience and longevity and isn’t attractive to new teachers. She noted the first step increase, of $400, equals to a raise of $33 a month.
For five years, the division has hired teachers without granting step increases. That’s left 76 teachers on “step zero” on the bachelor’s degree scale, 69 teachers on step zero on the master’s degree scale and seven employees on step zero of the master’s scale with more than 30 years of experience. When teachers receive continuing contracts, they should also receive compensation, Bauer said.
The YEA is pushing for a comprehensive pay plan focused on attracting and retaining highly qualified and effective staff, maximizing compensation and recognizing longevity.
On Monday morning, Gov. Bob McDonnell released his proposed amendments to the state’s 2012-14 biennial budget. One proposal is to allocate $15 million for competitive grants that would incentivize school divisions to develop compensation systems tailored to each division’s goals.
Bauer said the school board could consider reinstating its former “Teachers as Leaders” program, which rewarded staff that sought additional coursework, leadership duties, instructional training and facilitation. “This could potentially qualify as the ‘strategic compensation’ the governor is proposing,” she said.
Bauer also advocated for the restoration of para-educator and clerical staff cuts made in recent years, saying the loss of those employees has reduced remediation services, delayed registrations, delayed student database training and eliminated volunteer programs. In addition, she called for tuition reimbursement, one additional personal day and more planning time. She said York County’s teachers have 50-70 minutes less per week than Williamsburg-James City County Schools teachers for planning time.
Several speakers shared insights gleaned from the surveys administered by the YEA. Forty-six percent of respondents reported they have taken on a second or third job, and more than half said they supplement their income with tutoring and club sponsorship.
Tabb High School counselor Kati Rutherford shared anecdotes left in the comments of the surveys that illustrated how teachers have dealt with stagnant pay. Teachers shared stories of putting off doctor’s visits, car maintenance and home repairs. Others said they can no longer afford to buy supplies for their classrooms, or have sunk into credit card debt. One said extended family members moved in to help share the living costs. Rutherford said another teacher wrote, “I no longer feel valued.”
That struck the school board members, who have said increasing salaries is a top priority for the upcoming budget. Robert George said it was “disheartening” to hear teachers didn’t believe they are a priority. “We talk about it and think about it and sweat over it,” he said, adding that the board has asked its funding partners at the local and state levels to support funding for salary increases and “get shot down over and over again.”
Fellow board member Cindy Kirschke said it will be up to the board members to make it happen, and advocated for a reformed payscale. “I really believe now is the time,” she said. “Yes, our funding is dependent on the state and county, but we decide where the money goes in the budget.”
