Effective today, Newton Teachers Association members are declining to participate in more than 40 committees.
Read all about it from Boston University student Samantha Drysdale.
More job actions from teachers start today
by Gail Spector | Nov 1, 2019 | Boston University journalism, Newton Teachers Association, Schools | 10 comments
Samantha did an admirable job on this article and on this complex issue. However, one error should be corrected. The article states that most teachers receive a step increase, which could only be the case if most teachers had taught 17 years or less. Imagine teachers begin their career when they are around 25 years old (after completing a 2-year Master’s program, incurring significant student loans in the process). That means step increases end at around 40 years of age or even the late 30’s. Anyone at the top of the scale receives only a COLA for the next 20 to 25 years.
If Newton hires a teacher who has taught in another district, s/he is put on the salary scale at a point commensurate with the total number of years in the profession.
What percent do get step increases in Newton, @Jane? Could you please tell us?
You say: “Anyone at the top of the scale receives only a COLA for the next 20 to 25 years.” Not quite so. What percent get longevity payments?
The article stated that “most” teachers receive step increases, leaving the impression that step increases are not time restricted, but may continue on throughout one’s career. My point was to clarify that the step increases stop pretty early in one’s career – at a point when people may be incurring additional expenses and still paying off student debt which has become a very significant problem in this profession. I could find out how many NPS employees receive step increases for this year but it’s a pretty pointless data point because it changes every year.
Also, it should be noted that school systems don’t hire people on the higher end of the salary scale. That’s not just Newton, but just about everywhere. That makes the COLA all the more important.
Off to do som election work.
Golly, @Jane, you started this by saying that Samantha’s story had an error. I asked you to provide us the actual percentage. You chose not to, notwithstanding your deep knowledge of the situation. Now, you claim that it’s “a pretty useless data point because it changes every year.” Presumably, you have the facts if you are asserting that it changes every year. Just please provide the numbers, for as many years as you would like. I think the story would be in error if fewer than 50% of the teachers get step increases. That would be most people’s definition of “most,” I think. (It’s certainly the definition over at Merriam Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/most)
@Paul, I cannot recall where I got data on the distribution of the 1,117 NPS Unit A teachers by step and education level (Bachelors, Masters, Masters + 3, Masters + 4, Doctorate) as of 2/24/2009 (ten years ago!), but in summary, it says that 40% of them were at the top step (Step 13) — and thus no longer getting step increases. That varied as follows among those five education levels: 29%,29%, 59%,63%, 47%.
Back then, I was trying to figure out how overall pay grew (by step and education level) over the term of the contract then in place, taking into account step increases, cost-of-living increases, and longevity pay. The rates for all education levels were about the same: For steps 1-10, the compound annual growth rates were roughly in the range of 5.5% to 6%, rising to 7% to 7.5% for step 11, then back down to the high 5% range for step 12, and dropping to a uniform 2.4% for step 13.
@Bruce, thanks! I’d be curious to know the current figures. It feels like no one wants to present them in that kind of format to the public.
Bruce – I’d question the 29% at the Bachelor’s level, given that teacher is required to have completed a Master’s degree within the first five years of employment.
@Jane, you apparently have access to these kinds of figures. Why not answer the question directly about the current situation?
Paul – I don’t respond to comments that begin with “Golly, Jane…” Sorry about that, but I’ve been on this blog since its inception and experienced enough of that type of response from the guys.
If you want the information, go find it.
“The guys?” To whom are you referring? I didn’t think I was part of any group. Why is gender relevant?
I’d love to find the information. I don’t know where or how or even if it is publicly available. I’ve looked. Hoping you would help. After all, you’re the one who claimed the reporter was in error.