Arlington ISD’s Post

The Board of Education for Covington Independent Public Schools has unanimously decided to enhance full-time staff salaries by 4%, with consideration for individual tenure. Superintendent Alvin Garrison predicts that, with this increase, most employees will see their salaries rise by approximately 5.9% to 6%. There is, however, debate among board members on the approach to future salary increases. While member Kareem Simpson suggests targeted raises for specific positions to bolster competitiveness, Glenda Huff believes that uniform raises are crucial for maintaining staff morale. President Tom Haggard, initially skeptical, now deems the raises manageable given the district's fiscal health, but echoes Simpson's concern for long-term sustainability. This conversation reflects a broader dialogue on educational sector compensation, especially concerning disparities with neighboring Cincinnati's higher pay scales, and the challenge of keeping pace with inflation and regional housing costs. The Covington school district is holding a subsequent board meeting on May 16 to further address budget considerations and staff support strategies. https://lnkd.in/gUp_rtTB

📢 Petition - Stand Together for Fair Pay in Further Education! 📢 We know how crucial Further Education (FE) is to our education system and the transformative impact it has on our students. Yet, the recent 5.5% pay increase for teaching staff has excluded college staff, worsening the disparity in pay. It’s time to unite and urge the government to include FE staff in this pay increase. 🔍 Why This Matters: - FE is essential for the growth of 16-18 year olds and adults looking to switch careers or up-skill. - More are leaving the profession each year compared to school teachers (16% vs. 10%). - Attracting and retaining industry professionals for FE requires competitive pay, which current funding does not support. 🚨 The Issue The Sector Faces: - Many colleagues in trades like electricians, bricklayers, plumbers, and IT technicians can earn significantly more in the private sector. - Without competitive pay, the decline in FE educators will continue, affecting the quality of education and our students’ future. 💼 The Impact on Work: - Well-paid, well-trained FE teachers are essential for equipping our students with the skills to achieve their aspirations and contribute positively to their communities. - The current pay disparity undermines efforts to support Labour’s vision for a Fourth Industrial Revolution. 📈 What We’re Asking For: - Extending the 5.5% pay increase to FE staff would boost the average classroom teacher’s salary by over £2,500, raising the median salary for 2024/25 to over £49,000. - Currently, salaries do not reflect the critical role FE plays in education. 📝 Call to Action: We need to stand together and urge the government to extend the 5.5% pay increase to FE staff. This will help reduce pay disparity, make the profession more competitive, and improve the quality of learning for our students. Further Education should be included in all national teacher pay increases moving forward. ✊ Sign the Petition and Support Fair Pay for FE Teachers! (https://lnkd.in/e8GR_ur3) #SupportFETeachers #FairPay #FurtherEducation #EducationMatters #TeacherPay #FourthIndustrialRevolution #SkillsForTheFuture

“The proposed bargaining units would represent undergraduate and graduate student workers, adjunct and non-tenure track faculty and university staff on campus. The drive comes just weeks after Marquette officials announced planned budget cuts. Union organizers said they are seeking fair contracts, wages and benefits.” A broad based effort that seeks to unionize many groups. What gets places to this moment can include, among other things, resource allocation decisions that call into question institutional priorities, a lack of transparency and corresponding lack of trust in leadership. When this takes place in the context of enrollment and financial challenges, a perfect storm emerges. A closer examination of spending priorities in the context of mission is needed. There will be more and not less of this in the future.

Lagging salaries have meant teachers in #Ohio and across the nation are experiencing a 5% drop in purchasing power, according to a new report by the National Education Association. Last year, state lawmakers approved a 17% raise to the base annual salary for teachers, from $30,000 to $35,000 and agreed to fund the second phase of the state's Fair School Funding Plan. Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, said the changes are silver linings but argued Ohio has more work to do to alleviate shortages and retain educators in the field, emphasizing state investment for teacher pay should be a priority. "I think there's a disproportionately high reliance on local revenues," DiMauro explained. "That would be dollars that come from local tax levies, as opposed to from the state to fund our public schools. " Around the country, 1,300 school districts around the country saw starting teacher salaries reach or surpass $40,000 during the last academic year, Nearly 500 school districts now pay beginning teachers a starting salary of at least $60,000 annually, according to the report. DiMauro added collective bargaining states continue to rank highest in the nation when it comes to educator salaries. The starting salary of teachers in states with a bargaining law is around $1,600 more than in states without a bargaining law and top pay is more than $1,200 higher. "That's not by accident," DiMauro asserted. "Collective bargaining states have average salaries that are 26% higher than non-collective bargaining states." According to the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute, teacher pay has sharply declined compared with the pay of other college-educated workers. On average, teachers made around 26% less than similarly educated professionals in 2022, the lowest level since 1960. Disclosure: The Ohio Education Association contributes to our fund for reporting on Education. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

Interesting article on higher education. Higher education has been facing many challenges like declining enrollment, moving to online learning model, innovation grants, and overall revenue and operational challenges. https://lnkd.in/gnCD7xsS Fiscal capacity - United States - Tax legislation could be coming — but not this year - https://lnkd.in/gJFQVbsb Congress must pass Education Department appropriations and the farm bill - https://lnkd.in/geETa9mH Colleges face overtime, financial value transparency and Title IX regulations I have authored many articles on education including higher education as part of transforming education. There are significant skills gap issues that need to be address through education. https://lnkd.in/gqa_vzRc or https://lnkd.in/g47CqFEp #Highereducation #Funding #enrollment #skillsgap #innovation #grants

"Teachers working at St. Louis Public Schools will receive a 17 percent bump in pay over the next three years — the largest raise they’ve seen in two decades." Key Takeaways: 1) Historic Salary Bump: Teachers in St. Louis are receiving a well-deserved salary increase, acknowledging their dedication and hard work in shaping the future generation. 2) Milestone for Education: This salary increase represents a significant step forward in valuing educators and investing in the education system. It underscores the importance of prioritizing teacher compensation for attracting and retaining top talent in the field. 3) Persistent Challenges: While the salary boost is a positive sign, it's essential to address the broader issue of teacher pay in Missouri. The state still lags behind in comparison to national averages, highlighting the need for sustained efforts to improve teacher compensation statewide. 4) Commitment to Education: Investing in our educators is an investment in the future. By ensuring competitive salaries and support for teachers, we can enhance the quality of education and ultimately benefit our communities and society as a whole. https://lnkd.in/g-nyKYCj #compensation #pay #hr

Teachers deserve better! "Don't tell me your priorities - show me your budget, and I'll tell you your priorities."—President Joe Biden · The average starting pay for teachers in the U.S. is $44,530. · About 77% of U.S. school districts pay a starting salary below $50,000 · About 28% of school districts start teachers at less than $40,000 per year · The national average of teachers with 10 years of experience is $69,544. Well, judging by teacher salaries, education isn't exactly high on the list. Are we going to let this slide? Teachers are the core of our future generations.

The PPTA has had a come to Jesus moment on charter schools. This is a major departure from the union’s previous position and shows they’re finally accepting the reality of charter schools. When charter schools were introduced last time round, the unions were steadfast in banning their membership from working at charter schools. They even went as far as preventing charter school students from participating in area sports competitions or accessing services shared with state schools for offsite education. It’s good to see them soften their stance and be more inclusive to charter school teachers. It will mean students don’t face barriers to things like sports and facility access for the sake of a union and teachers will have more options for employment. Including charter school teachers means that the union can initiate single employer collective bargaining with the sponsor. Charter schools will have independence to negotiate changes to employment terms and conditions relevant to their school and do what they think is best for their teachers and their students. Unions will not be able to initiate multi-employer collective agreement bargaining for charter school staff. Multi-employer collective agreements would affect charter school sponsors’ level of influence over the types of terms and conditions offered to their employees and could therefore influence the flexibility the schools can provide in teaching and other aspects of school operations. Charter schools are all about improving outcomes for students. Flexibility is essential for this as it will drive an increase in innovation and choice within education, meeting needs and expectations of students, and increasing the quality of education. The PPTA’s proposed change can be found on pages four and six of this document: https://lnkd.in/g5tmiNcD

Interesting read

Today, 30,000 Professors, Librarians, and Counselors at California State University (CSU) 🏫 , the largest public university system in the U.S., commenced a planned five-day system-wide strike led by the California Faculty Association from January 22 to January 27, 2024. 🔦 CSU is recognized for having the most ethnically, economically, and academically diverse student population in the nation. 💰 The institution's $8.7 billion annual budget relies on over half of its revenue from public funding, and the remaining $3.3 billion coming from tuition and fees (460,000 students). 📢 The faculty is striking for the following reasons: ✅ 12% pay raises to combat inflation (estimated cost of $380 million). ✅ Pay equity and upliftment of the lowest-paid faculty. ✅ Manageable workloads for enhanced support and engagement with students. ✅ Increased counseling services for crucial mental health support. ✅ Expansion of paid parental leave to a full semester. ✅ Accessibility to lactation and milk storage spaces for faculty. ✅ Safe gender-inclusive restrooms and changing rooms. ✅ Safety provisions for faculty interacting with university police on campuses. Your voice matters! As we navigate the complexities of higher education, I invite students, administrators, and policymakers to share your insights. What steps do you think can be taken to foster collaboration and address the concerns raised by the faculty at California State University? Let's build a conversation for positive change together. #CSUStrike #HigherEdDialogue 🤝🎓