Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for April 15, 2009 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The superintendent of schools in Irving, Texas is concerned about retaining current teachers and recruiting replacement teachers. To do so, he is putting his money where his mouth is...planning to increase teacher pay by an average of 5%.

The starting salary would become $48,500.

The Board of Education in Cairo, Illinois has expressed concern about recruiting replacement teachers, bemoaning the low starting salary...a starting salary of $25,026.

The BOE's negotiating team was informed at the last bargaining session that over 20% of its current teaching staff will retire within the next three years...they didn't bat an eye...expressed no concern...still intent on nickle and diming salary issues and looking for "gimmicks" to raise the starting salary while denying existing faculty the same consideration. (Oh, they did concede to drop their gimmick at the last session...when we showed them a better one. However, the nickle and diming continue...)

This projection of 20% does NOT include the other faculty members who may well leave for greener pastures...like Irving, Texas. (You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but it ain't all that hard for Southern Illinois CATs to morph their drawl into a Texas twang!)

And, by the way...

If the thought crossed your mind that Cairo CATs are unlikely to venture forth to the "Great State of Texas", well, how 'bout...

• Carbondale, Illinois...where the starting salary is $35,195...an increase of $10,000!

  Or...

• Marion, Illinois...where the starting salary is $40,175...you do the math!

Irving ISD considers 5 percent pay raise for teachers

By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News

Getting a big raise may seem like wishful thinking in this down economy. But the Irving school district is considering giving teachers a 5 percent boost for the 2009-10 school year.

If the raise is approved, a beginning teacher with a bachelor's degree could make as much as $48,500 next year in the Irving ISD.

Teacher pay is a competitive game in North Texas, with school districts maneuvering to attract the cream of the crop. The Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Birdville ISDs, both in Tarrant County, paid beginning teachers the most in 2008-09.

"We've been fighting to catch up," said Debbie Cabrera, assistant superintendent of finance for the Irving ISD.

Budget woes could hold down salary increases for teachers in many other Dallas-area school districts. Irving hopes its big increase, not yet approved by its board of trustees, will be an advantage in recruiting for next year.

"All my colleagues are mad at me," Cabrera said. "They're saying we can't do that. Oh, my gosh, what are you going to do to us? They're in different positions."

Plano, Richardson and Carrollton-Farmers Branch, have grappled with significant budget deficits. Irving officials say their economic picture is more secure.

The Irving school board may make a decision on raises as early as its Monday meeting. Trustees are looking at average 5 percent raises, which would cost about $5.6 million. They could fall back to an average raise of 4.5 percent, which would cost about $5 million.

The exact percentage would depend on a teacher's experience and whether he or she has a master's degree. The range could be from 4.1 to 6.1 percent.

If the districts go with the 5 percent average raise, the maximum a teacher would earn with a master's degree would become $70,045. A beginning bilingual teacher could earn $52,500.

Cabrera said the district could pay for the raises by spending from its fund balance. The district also could finance the raises with a tax increase.

Board president Jerry Christian said the district is weighing the impact of a tax increase on taxpayers already suffering in tough economic times. However, a big raise could also help reduce teacher turnover, he said.

Bud Weinstein, a University of North Texas economics professor, said the big-raise proposal is unusual during a time when private-sector businesses are freezing or cutting salaries. Texas State Teachers Association spokesman Joe Bean said that many districts have budget deficits and no room under state law to increases their tax rates. The only alternative for some, he said, is additional state funding.

"Salary increases are going to be much more difficult without additional state money," he said.

For example, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch district is considering making the bulk of its proposed 2 percent teacher raises contingent upon voters approving a tax increase. Most other area districts, including Dallas, say it's too early to tell what they'll do.

Plano school board president Skip Jenkins called Irving's proposal "surprising."

"We really don't want to deficit spend this year, like we have the last three," Jenkins said. "If we get to the point that the Legislature does nothing, then the board will have to make another decision about deficit spending for teachers' salaries."

Richardson assistant superintendent for finance Tony Harkleroad echoed that sentiment and said his district is planning on 2 to 3 percent raises.

"We quit trying to be No. 1 on salaries several years ago," he said. "We try to stay about middle of the pack. This will put Irving way to the upper end of the pack."

He said other districts are more worried about just paying the bills this year, much less next year.

Other districts sounded similar concerns.

"With the uncertainties surrounding school funding in the Legislature, we are not considering any specific proposals at this time," said Laura Jobe, Mesquite's spokeswoman.

Matthew Haag contributed to this report.

A sampling of what larger Dallas-area school districts pay beginning teachers with bachelor's degrees during the 2008-09 year.

$47,370: Hurst-Euless-Bedford

$47,000: Birdville

$46,400: Irving*

$45,600: Fort Worth

$45,530: Highland Park

$45,500: Grand Prairie

$45,379: Coppell

$45,000: Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton-Farmers Branch

$44,900: Carroll, Grapevine-Colleyville

$44,600: Lewisville

$44,500: Allen, Arlington, Frisco

$44,350: Dallas

$44,250: Plano

$44,000: McKinney, Richardson

*Irving is considering an increase for next year that would bring a starting teacher to $48,300 or $48,500.

SOURCES: Irving ISD; Texas Association of School Boards