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Money talks for school districts
Those salaries will play a role in the negotiation process under way in seven area school districts, say officials in districts with contracts in place.
The three area districts with the lowest starting salaries, Fort Cherry, West Greene and Charleroi, are negotiating new contracts. Under state law, teachers are paid based on the 2008-09 contract until a new contract is approved, said David Andrews, an Altoona-based attorney who works with districts, including Canon-McMillan, on negotiations.
Other area districts negotiating expired contracts are Washington, Canon-McMillan, McGuffey and Southeastern Greene.
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Andrews said it does seem that there are more expired contracts across the state this year than in the past. He attributed that partially to the economic climate.
The local unions and school boards have been mum about specific details of their negotiations, though a Pennsylvania State Education Association spokeswoman said earlier this year that salary and health benefits are the most common issues addressed in negotiations. The negotiating unions have informed their districts that they intend to work as long as talks continue. The Canon-McMillan union voted Wednesday to allow its bargaining team to call for a strike if talks break down.
Ringgold Superintendent Gary Hamilton said the school board deliberately chose to increase its starting salary when it negotiated a new contract that runs until Aug. 31, 2013.
Prior to this contract, Ringgold's starting salary was in the "low twenties," Hamilton said.
"We would hire teachers. They would get a few years experience and jump to another district and make $10,000 more," he said. "Now, we don't see a mass exodus after a few years."
Avella Superintendent Wayde Killmeyer said the school board does try to take into account salaries in surrounding districts because it doesn't want to lose good teachers. However, the board has to balance what it pays teachers with what taxpayers can afford, he said.
Avella has the eighth-highest starting salary out of 19 districts in Washington and Greene counties. However, its maximum salary is lower than almost all of the districts.
Killmeyer said he thinks that's a better deal for teachers because they can get more money now.
Intermediate Unit 1 provides salary histories and comparisons for districts to use during negotiations, said Chartiers-Houston Business Manager Don Bennett.
He said it's hard to compare Chartiers-Houston to Peters Township when their tax bases and populations are so different.
"It's like apples and oranges," he said.
Instead, Chartiers-Houston will look at the salaries of similar-sized districts, such as Avella and Fort Cherry.
"That way we're comparing apples to apples," he said.
Bennett said if a district has a ridiculously low starting salary compared to surrounding districts, it will have problems with hiring.
"I think our salary scale is competitive," he said. "We get some really good teachers."
Andrews said districts also need to consider the difference between their starting salary and maximum salary. The bigger the difference, the more savings they have when a longtime employee retires and is replaced by a new teacher, he said.
He said most potential hires look at the entire salary schedule when making a determination about where to work if they have more than one offer. Teacher contracts have salary schedules, which call for pay increases based on years of experience and education levels.
One Indiana County district has a low starting salary, but jumps $18,000 in the second year, Andrews said.
It also depends on whether a district has had problems hiring over neighboring districts, he said.
"There are several influences to determine (what the salaries will be)," Andrews said.
2009-10 teacher salaries
District Starting salary with Maximum bachelor’s degree salary
Trinity $42,625 - $78,150
Peters Township $39,900 - $94,084
State average $37,806 - not available
*Canon-McMillan $35,800 - $76,812
California $35,425 - $69,111
Bentworth $35,274 - $72,623
*Washington $34,425 - $73,775
*McGuffey $33,020 - $72,982
Avella $32,900 - $66,530
Ringgold $32,500 - $72,508
*S’eastern Greene $32,500 - $60,500
Chartiers-Houston $31,300 - $75,950
Burgettstown $31,109 - $67,609
Bethlehem-Center $31,000 - $66,725
Jefferson-Morgan $30,655 - $62,810
Carmichaels $30,170 - $66,838
Central Greene $29,000 - $68,100
*Charleroi $29,000 - $71,399
*West Greene $28,700 - $57,175
*Fort Cherry $27,500 - $66,731
*Teachers in these districts are working on expired contracts. The salaries listed are for the 2008-09 school year, which is what they will be paid until a new contract is approved. The districts are listed by starting salary from highest to lowest.
Join the Observer-Reporter's conversation about education at our blog at http://orbehindthedesk.blogspot.com.
Check your facts. : 9/6/2009
The high end for Trinity is NOT that high for a bachelor's. It is less. I know this for a fact!
$$$$$$$$$$$ : 9/6/2009
You missed a key component of salary scales, how many years do they have to work to get the top salary.
contracts : 9/6/2009
This article is a start. Go get CM's current contract that just expired. Copy it, and put it in the Observer for everyone to read. 18-20 years to be at the top. But there is alot more to the contract. In CM, they pay $25 for family coverage on their health care, no co-pays or deductibles. They have top of the line. Also, all teachers in the state of PA, get a GUARANTEED pension, no matter what the state account did, and as we all know it lost money, but the teachers didn't. There are many benefits that have to be included to let people know what their package is. If the Observer is going to report, do it complete!
Pitiful : 9/6/2009
that Fort Cherry teachers come out of college and make $27,500, the lowest around. Laughable. Who cares how sweet their benefits are. $400-$500,000 house in Cherry Valley, and a starting teacher can barely afford a trailer.
Fact : 9/6/2009
Less than 5 FC teachers actually make the starting salary. Many earn the maximum, and clean house on their 'extras'.
To 'pitiful' : 9/6/2009
Feel free to leave your job. I'll be glad to work for that salary.
Who writes this? : 9/6/2009
How many years does it take to get to the 'next steps'? A salary range doesn't really tell anyone anything.
to Concerned : 9/6/2009
In order to get your "actual" rate of pay add the amount of your benefits. I would work for my lower wage to be able to get your benefits. They are unbelievable.
To Enjoy the trailer : 9/6/2009
Where did you get that number? There are at least 7 new hires this year and there were about that many for each of the previous two years. That means about 30 teachers are making less than $30,000. Teachers work hard to educate your children. It is one of the most stressful, thankless jobs around. And unless you have walked in their shoes, you have no idea what they encounter day after day. I have family members who are teachers and see the stress they endure. Most don't do it for the money. They truly want to make a difference in a child's life. So stop criticizing teachers for wanting to be able to pay their bills. And for those of you who would "gladly work for that salary", you can apply at paeducator.net.
Fact(s) : 9/6/2009
I doubt one house in Cherry Valley is assessed @ $400,000 for tax purposes. Last time I checked Fort Cherry had a relatively low millage rate (around $46,000). Last time I checked some teachers had some pretty nice "trailers" it must be hard to suffer so much.
Worth it : 9/6/2009
Without teachers there would be no lawyers, doctors or even athletes. I want a qualified person teaching my child, not someone that is only there because they can't get a jobin a higher paying district. Neighboring counties put these districts to shame with their teaching salaries. They are well worth it, but some of these salaries are showing the maximum after over 20 years. In a corporate world, people make $70,000 after as fewa s 5 years. As far as insurance some of these schools have lousy coverage and pay top dollar for it.
Pensions : 9/7/2009
Guess what, the teacher's pension fund is all screwed up by the state. Guess who is on the hook to "bail them out"?
Those 5 teachers... : 9/7/2009
go on the next year to a whopping $28,000, then maybe get close to $30,000 the third year. How many teachers does that apply to, Mr.-on-the-inside?? When Avella teachers make more than another school in the county, that school's teachers are getting shortchanged. Bottom line.
Please. : 9/7/2009
People do NOT make that much after 5 years. Not without an advanced degree. Furthermore, there are plenty of teachers that are qualified and willing to make that starting salary. The problem is with the 'long in the tooth' teachers that get their tenure, then go through the motions for years, while our taxes go upwards. It's obvious that 'worth it' is part of the union looking to bankrupt these school districts in the coming years.
If I don't like my salary : 9/7/2009
Which I have in my career, I have gone on to educate myself, and change my job. Teachers also have that luxury and I sure don't feel sorry for them when looking at these salary ranges for a Bachelor's Degree
Interesting : 9/7/2009
Thanks for the article. I don't know if you have the data, but I would also be interested in how many of these school districts have retained their teachers. Or the averages in years they have worked there. I know for a fact one of the districts wanting a new contract haven't lost many teachers though whine on here about the 'starting salary'. Would it be because it doesn't take many years to jump up?
True sense of 'apples to oranges' : 9/7/2009
Is comparing a teacher to the 'corporate world'.
Teacher Pension : 9/7/2009
Yes, the taxpayers will bail them out. Call your legislators and ask them why they gave themselves and the teachers a GUARANTEED PENSION PLAN. Because the teachers union is the largest and they want their support. Yes, their pension fund lost money, but THEY WILL NOT LOOSE ANY MONEY N THEIR RETIREMENT CHECKS. We as a state have to bail them out. The school districts will tax us to death to get the money. Then the teachers want a retirement incentive to retire. When they retire after 30 years, which they would be around 52-55 years old, they will make almost as much as if they were teaching and remember, they are at the top of the pay scale. They want us taxpayers to give them their health care till they are 65. WORK TILL YOU ARE 65 LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD.
Fort Cherry : 9/7/2009
While the starting salary is relatively low, what is the average salary paid and how many teachers are at the top step of $66,000 per year? I believe 25% - 33% are at the top step. This article is a bit misleading. Also, isn't FC negotiating a new contract right now? So the starting salary is likely to be increased? And is FC to be ridiculed because the admin and school board are very good at negotiating teacher contracts (apparently better than some other districts)?
Contracts : 9/7/2009
Remember all these salaries are based on only working 8 months a year.
To thankful for teachers : 9/7/2009
The number is on the actual state website of teachers hired. Maybe you should look it up.
laugh : 9/8/2009
alot of you complain, if you want this salary then go to school and become and teacher..then again i prob wouldnt want you teaching my children so dont. who else starts out so low of pay out of college? anyone? it is misleading but those high ranges will soon all be low ranges as teachers retire and the cycle begins again. Teachers also do alot of work at night at home with grading and such so even tho its 8 months they put in more then 8 hours a day.
Money talks for school districts : 9/8/2009
to Contracts: You obviously don't know much about teachers. They work many more hours than most of us in the 'corporate world', grading papers during holidays and well into the evenings, making up lesson plans during their summer 'breaks', not to mention much of their own money being spent of supplies that the school cannot provide. Teachers are grossly underpaid but do it for the love of children! We need to THANK our children's teachers!
Teacher pay and benefits. : 9/8/2009
Teachers have not been respected since they started making more money than laborers. Teachers were well-liked whenever all male teachers had to have second and third jobs, male teachers with several children would qualify for free or reduced lunch and had small houses and used cars. They all work longer than 8 months a year and most teachers work longer than 8 hours a day. They are required to continue their educations throughout their careers. Many have masters degrees. What salary would people like for a college-educated professional to make? Keep in mind we ultimately pay everyone else salaries whether it is through taxes, purchases, paying for services, etc.
I THANK our teachers... : 9/8/2009
...it doesn't mean they have to make that much though
Exception : 9/8/2009
We commend you for all your extra hours, you are one of few.
If you work all of these hours... : 9/9/2009
....love kids, etc, then why is the article titled "MONEY TALKS"?
we choose our careers : 9/9/2009
Yes, teachers are supposed to do it because they love teaching kids and shaping their lives, etc. However, we choose our careers and if you choose to work in a non-profit environment, you can't expect to make what someone makes who works in a for-profit environment. If you want a large salary and hefty annual increases, bonuses, etc, then go work in a for-profit corporation and put up with that. You can't have your cake and eat it, too.
Wanted: Respect and Credit : 9/16/2009
The posted responses that ridicule teachers downright disgust me. The job of a teacher is not easy by any means. I write this respectfully in contrast to anyone who thinks we “get paid too much for our 8 months of employment.” Well, come join me and my fellow colleagues for a full school year, or maybe just even try ONE day in our shoes. I bet you could not keep up with the demands, requests, and conditions we must respond to and fulfill on a daily basis.
Many would gladly... : 9/28/2009
...do your job for more than ONE day. You do realize how many young unemployed teachers are waiting to take your job, right?
