Teacher Pay Parity Plan Questions & Answers

Question
I have a question. After I figured out the raise I'm getting, it amounts to about $1100 this year because $792.35 is the extra hours I will be working. Do you consider the entire $ll95.00 a raise for this year? As you can see, you are giving me only $1132.00 raise, which amounts to $66.00 per check.
Answer
Your increase for this school year is $1925.00, which is almost a 5.5% pay increase. Since the change in instructional day and professional development does not go into effect until next school year, the deductions that you calculated do not apply. Next school year your salary will go to $40,499.

Question
Hello, I was just wondering if the union will let the board know of the lay out of the pay structure for the 10 month workers such as myself. I have a masters plus 30; will the increase of pay show by the 17th of December?
Answer
Yes. The pay increase for all non-administrative certificated employees will be on the December 17th paycheck retroactive to the beginning of the school year.

Question
Why is the pay raise that we are receiving this year (which breaks down to $29.23/hr), turning into a decrease next year (even with the salary step, because of the 8 hour day, it breaks down to $28.50/hr)? What did we do wrong to deserve this? Or what are we being expected to do wrong to deserve this? I would really like to hear that I am misunderstanding the 8 hour day thing, and just be happy with the much needed increase.
I am still trying to figure out how we are not supposed to abuse our PTO days by not using them when we are not sick or have a child that is sick, yet, we are required to request them 10 days in advance. I do not know 10 days in advance when I am going to be sick, does anyone else? Also, why wouldn't we make a point of using all given PTO days if they are only worth 1/3 of the money if we don't use them? I'm one of those people whose time is more valuable than their money, therefore, I see this as stupid. Am I not understanding this whole PTO thing? Please explain it to me
Answer
The new school day will equal 7.5 hours which will allow for more instruction and professional development. There may be some instances where the hourly rate will be slightly lowered, but the total compensation is significantly increased.
Advance notice on PTO days only applies to non-emergencies. Personal illness or an ill child do not require advance notice. You would call in that morning and receive PTO compensation for the day.

Question
I am a Library Media Specialist and my pay is not reflected on the salary scale given to certificated personnel. I also received a letter stating my new annual salary for 2004-2005 as a MA3, will be $47,408.00- I currently earn $2257.50 per pay period or about $47,407.50 (2257.50x21 pay periods). This doesn't reflect an increase. Is there a special salary schedule for LMS and are we getting an increase?
Answer
Library Media Specialists currently work a 7.5 hour day.

Question
The new plan by the Board will extend the teachers' day by one hour. Does that extend the student day by any amount of time? The other school districts such as Parkway, Rockwood, and Clayton have student days not longer than our students currently attend per day. The extended time in those districts is for teacher planning and inservice. Surely we will not be expected to deal with a longer student day than those other districts. We are already stressed by the challenges of getting everything done that is required of us outside of instructional time.
What will be the proposed new arrival and departure times for teachers with the extended hour?
Answer
The new day will include more instructional time. The work day for all of the other districts varied a little from district to district. Our new day averages out what we gathered from the other districts.

Question
I am curious about the pay increase that teachers will be getting on the seventeenth. By accepting the increase, does that mean that teachers accept the new "contract" they have offered us- meaning the extra ten days and the extra hour each working day? If that is the case, then word should be sent to the teachers so that we can do something about it.
Answer
Accepting the pay increase does not indicate acceptance or rejection of the policy statement. We are confident that when teachers see the monetary increases that are part of the new plan, they will realize how financially beneficial it is to them.

Question
I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY TIMES OUR PAY IS TO BE INCREASED BY $500. IS IT ON DEC. 17, 2004 AND AGAIN ON JULY 1, 2005 AND JULY 1, 2006, 2007, AND 2008? I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER RIGHT AWAY IF POSSIBLE BEFORE THE STRIKE VOTE ON DEC 15, 2004.
Answer
The $500 will be paid in a bonus on December 17, 2004 for the current fiscal year. At the beginning of the next fiscal year, July 1, 2005, the annual salaries of clerical and paraprofessional employees will be increased by $500. Keep in mind that we will also be conducting a salary study, and clerical and paraprofessional salaries will be adjusted accordingly at the completion of the study.

Question
Will you post the Teacher Pay Parity Plan that was presented to Local 420 in its entirety on your website so everyone can understand all aspects?
Answer
The majority of these items are on the website or will be posted shortly.

Question
1. According to some of the language in the contract, it appears that administrators may call their staff into session at any time between Monday morning and Saturday afternoon with no compensation. Is this the correct interpretation?

2. As someone who coaches in one of the five districts used as examples I am aware of their teaching schedules during the day. Teachers in the middle and the high school work five period days with one prep period and one contact period. Neither of those periods have assigned students. Also, their lunch is counted as part of their 7-1/2 hour school day. What are the plans for the extra hour that is to be added?

3. I am also well aware of the salaries in at least two of the districts mentioned and I don't believe the increase which most SLPS teachers are receiving puts them on a par with those two districts. What evidence can you give that my salary (Ph.D. with 37 years experience) will be on a par with a similar person in any of these five districts?
Answer
We have reserved time in the work week to conduct professional development and compensating the teachers. We realize that teachers have other responsibilities and all professional development will be scheduled at reasonable times.

Keep in mind that the parity program is over a 4 year period of time. The goal is to have our teachers at parity at the completion of the period.

Question
Can the amount of the PTO payment and the days being credited be broken out on checks/vouchers?
Answer
The PTO payout will be reflected as a separate entry on the December 17th, paycheck.

Question
Will Teacher Assistants be getting a raise? If so how much?
Answer
Teacher Assistants will receive the $500 bonus, and their salaries will be raised by $500 on July 1, 2005. Their positions will also be part of the salary study to determine if any other adjustments are warranted.

Question
Will I receive a step or just a raise? I have been at the lowest step and salary for three years now. Will this change?

If I were to quit today, and get rehired, wouldn't the district raise my salary because I would be a teacher with "two years of experience?" Why is there incentive to quit and then get rehired?

What happens if in two years if there is no money for the current proposal, the board decides to force another contract on us?
Answer
You will stay at your current step but at the new rate retroactive to the beginning of the school year. Next year you will go the the next step at the 2005-2006 rate. If you resigned and were rehired, you would be rehired at Step A.