TEACHER COMPENSATION
ACTUAL TEACHER RAISES
This past November, I watched as teachers worked hard to pass Prop A , our latest tax increase. After all, the district said they would be using the tax increase for teacher retention pay. The results of this led to $500 retention bonuses. I am advised that teachers also received a 1% raise at the beginning of the year with no plan in place or even an estimate to add additional compensation at this time. In conversation recently with one teacher, she advised me that increased insurance premiums have led her to taking a cut in pay this year. To add insult to injury, administrators in the district are averaging $100,000 a year salaries. It is the school board who approves of teacher compensation, and they are not standing up for those that have the most contact and influence with our children. They are the ones doing the heavy lifting day after day in the classroom. I propose a freeze on administration pay and at a minimum, $2 dollar increase to teachers for every $1 the administrators receive. This only makes sense.
For every 1% increase in compensation it costs the district between $700,000 and $800,000 dollars. This means we need to cut costs in other areas and funnel it to the teachers as well. The school board is not only responsible for how high the tax rate is, they are also in charge of HOW that money is spent. Money saved should be used to boost our classroom teachers and reward those that deserve it most. I will fight for teachers. Quite frankly, I don't know how some of you do it on what you're paid now. I have to assume your husbands and wives are also working. As a single father raising two boys, I know how much it costs at the grocery store, gas station, and just making ends meet throughout the month. I am the only candidate running who can and will empathize with you.