So little money, so much responsibility...

Mr. Deans believes that the combination of the two types of raises teachers receive annually is "exorbitant" and is the main reason, and perhaps only reason services to our students have been severely reduced. I can't disagree that overall raises (the combination of the two types) look exorbitant (depending on where teachers are in terms of seniority and professional development); they have ranged annually from 7% to 11.6% over the nearly six years of the last two negotiated contracts. But I would have to say that the pressure teacher salaries put on the budget is one of several factors, the most prominent of which is the astonishing disappearance of several critical sources of revenue-- the $750 thou removed by the state in 2004, the decision at the state level to stop funding transportation costs (a $400,000 per year additional cost we've borne since 2004); the removal of state funding for programs like MCAS tutoring, health services, and such. We are required to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind regulatory menu, despite the fact that NCLB has not been funded at more than 15% of the recommended budget to accomplish that task since it's inception.

The problem is one of expense and revenue; Mr. Deans is right to encourage us to try to control expenses where we can. We agree on this.

I would point out the largest raise occurs when a teacher achieves professional status (completes their Master's degree), meeting state requirements for both the individual and the the requirements that the School system is also expected to meet. I don't disagree that salaries across the city, have put a lot of pressure on the city-- it isn't limited to the schools by any means. On the other hand, there probably is not a single employer in the city outside of Anna Jacques who requires a work force to be so highly educated and professional. Once the sun sets on those remaining teachers who have been grandfathered into the regulations, if you want to teach in a Massachusetts public school for more than five years, you will need to have a Master's Degree. That's reality. The rate of health insurance increases over the past three years alone exceeds (far exceeds) the total 38.9% in raises Mr. Deans calculates by combining the totals of the two tiers for teachers for five years. That is also a reality. In Salem, two years ago, failure to plan for unexpected increases in utilities resulted in the layoff of teachers in the middle of the school year.

I agree with Mr. Deans that we should make every effort to control costs where we can. I agree that the bargaining table is one place to make that happen, for every union negotiated contract in the city.

I would also encourage Mr. Deans to check out the annual list for city salaries for the last three years; and find out how many teachers, some of who have worked for our system for 25 or more years, are in the top third, or even the top half of city salaries. He might also note who occupies the upper ranges of those salaries; I'll bet that aside from the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent, and perhaps some of the principals, he will find city employees with far less service-time on the city payroll receiving far more money than any teacher. I'd further suggest that it is unfair to raise this as the sole reason the schools are financially screwed up; and encourage him to talk with the Mayor and City Council about who is actually making the big bucks off the city, and what can or is being done to rein in those costs.