Where does the $3.8 billion go

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03/16/2024 17:52

Subject: Where does the $3.8 billion go

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Anonymous wrote:When I was in grad school (in education) in 2003, we looked at the budget of our respective school systems (it was a class of educators from many counties--Arlington, FCPS, DC, Montgomery, PG, Loudoun). At that time FCPS's was appx $2.2B. I am stunned that less than 20 years later, it is almost $4B. That is a staggering amount of money. PP is correct re: the amount which goes to the people that make the system run. In 2003, it was 85%. I am pleasantly surprised that that total has risen to almost 90%.

I would like to see a citation for the claim "for every 2 people in the classroom, there is 1 that isn't".

This is an average increase of 2.7% per year over that time period. Inflation has averaged 2.6% since 2003. Sure it is a stager ring amount of money but context helps here.

Good context. I didn't do the math (should have!)--it does put the increase in perspective. Thank you.

I would agree with the math argument above if I saw the sand inflation adjustment in teacher salaries: if $50k a year in 2003 became $85k a year in 2023 ( and I mean for the same education and experience level). Which did not happen. So this is NOT due to inflation adjustments.

In 2003, starting pay with a MA was $39,184. In 2024 it’s $64,612.

In 2003, step 12 with a MA was $55,803. In 2024 it is $90,379

Page 286: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/03approved.pdf

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY2024-teacher-195-day.pdf

Actually, starting salary for MA in 2024 is $61,600. If I applied 2.7% yearly increase to 2003 salary, we are $7000 short as 39184*1.027^21=68562. That is 10% short. So.. The stating salary for MA is 10% less today than in 2003 after counting for 2.7% inflation adjustment you mentioned

DP: You have to figure in total compensation though--because health care costs far outpaced inflation--and other teachers' benefits' (pensions and other retirement benefits) costs have also outpaced inflation. Private companies have largely cut a lot of those in order to offer what seems like a higher salary. That's why total compensation packages are considered--not just salary--when looking at inflation.

Respectfully, I disagree. The insurance offered by FCPS today is horrible and very expensive. That is why I personally on my husbands plan. The retirement age is increased and formula is worse than before, and it is applied to the lower salary figures.

All this talk about total compensation is just that talk. The extras we get are stupid “wellness programs” that no one wants. I will take the extra 10% of my salary instead, thank you very much.

Nonetheless, whenever anyone looks at whether salary growth is matching inflation, you need to account for the cost of the employer contribution to health insurance and the cost of running the pension program as these are considered your total compensation. Wellness programs and extras like that are not considered. I'm not making an argument about whether you are happy with any of it--just it's important to how you calculate whether compensation has kept up with inflation.