What is the salary range for MCPS teachers?

[Anonymous]

What is the salary range for MCPS teachers? I was wondering, since there has been so much recent news about the school budget, teacher benefits, etc.

[Anonymous]

I have been teaching for five years in MCPS. I have a masters degree and I currently make 56,000. I did not receive a salary increase this year and will not receive one next year.

The salary schedule for teachers is posted on the MCPS website.

[Anonymous]

In the past, teachers have received a cost of living increase, and a percentage raise every year ("step increase"). However that has not happened in I think the past three years, and will not happen next year either. Additionally, teachers will be paying a higher portion of the cost of insurance/benefits this upcoming school year, so while salaries will remain the same, paychecks will be smaller.

Here is a link to the salary schedule: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/ersc/employees/pay/schedules/salary_schedule_fy11.pdf

[Anonymous]

Additionally, teachers will be paying a higher portion of the cost of insurance/benefits this upcoming school year,

I don't think that's true anymore - didn't they just "uncover" millions of dollars that they are using to avoid having teachers shoulder more of their health care costs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Additionally, teachers will be paying a higher portion of the cost of insurance/benefits this upcoming school year,

I don't think that's true anymore - didn't they just "uncover" millions of dollars that they are using to avoid having teachers shoulder more of their health care costs?

That money won't be going to the teachers. They won't have higher healthcare costs, but will have to pay more towards pension.

[Anonymous]

They will have to pay an additional 2% of their salary to the state retirement system. Which amounts to a 2% pay cut since that money is not going to increase retirement benefits in any way. The 2% just means the state pays that much less to the retirement fund. In all essences it was a teacher tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will have to pay an additional 2% of their salary to the state retirement system. Which amounts to a 2% pay cut since that money is not going to increase retirement benefits in any way. The 2% just means the state pays that much less to the retirement fund. In all essences it was a teacher tax.

The state contribution to the retirement fund isn't changing -- the state will still be contributing just as much as it was before. The difference caused by the 2% increase teachers will pay is that the retirement fund will actually have enough money to pay future benefits (or at least will be closer to having enough money).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will have to pay an additional 2% of their salary to the state retirement system. Which amounts to a 2% pay cut since that money is not going to increase retirement benefits in any way. The 2% just means the state pays that much less to the retirement fund. In all essences it was a teacher tax.

This

We're paying extra to balance out the budget b/c the money is not invested in our pensions.

a tax on teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They will have to pay an additional 2% of their salary to the state retirement system. Which amounts to a 2% pay cut since that money is not going to increase retirement benefits in any way. The 2% just means the state pays that much less to the retirement fund. In all essences it was a teacher tax.

This

We're paying extra to balance out the budget b/c the money is not invested in our pensions.

a tax on teachers

The vast majority of US workers have NO pension plan, by the way. Maybe you'd like to be teaching in Nevada, Arizona, Florida, etc.-places that were crushed by the recession. Unlike here which is still a relative Disneyland. Seriously, drive across county sometime.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe how many people are angry at us.

It's unbelievable.

I have no reason to drive across country. I'm fine here. But thanks for trying to "enlighten" me as to the economic problems the entire country is facing.

What a dim bulb you are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They will have to pay an additional 2% of their salary to the state retirement system. Which amounts to a 2% pay cut since that money is not going to increase retirement benefits in any way. The 2% just means the state pays that much less to the retirement fund. In all essences it was a teacher tax.

This

We're paying extra to balance out the budget b/c the money is not invested in our pensions.

a tax on teachers

The vast majority of US workers have NO pension plan, by the way. Maybe you'd like to be teaching in Nevada, Arizona, Florida, etc.-places that were crushed by the recession. Unlike here which is still a relative Disneyland. Seriously, drive across county sometime.

[Anonymous]

Then stop bitching about budget cut backs. Every other type of County employee has suffered much worse in this recession than teachers have. I'm tired of hearing teachers cry about it. This is how recessions work. It will get better in a year or so and then salaries and benefits will start going back up. they always do.

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe how many people are angry at us.

It's unbelievable.

I have no reason to drive across country. I'm fine here. But thanks for trying to "enlighten" me as to the economic problems the entire country is facing.

What a dim bulb you are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They will have to pay an additional 2% of their salary to the state retirement system. Which amounts to a 2% pay cut since that money is not going to increase retirement benefits in any way. The 2% just means the state pays that much less to the retirement fund. In all essences it was a teacher tax.

This

We're paying extra to balance out the budget b/c the money is not invested in our pensions.

a tax on teachers

The vast majority of US workers have NO pension plan, by the way. Maybe you'd like to be teaching in Nevada, Arizona, Florida, etc.-places that were crushed by the recession. Unlike here which is still a relative Disneyland. Seriously, drive across county sometime.

[Anonymous]

Then don't bitch when class sizes increase, resources become scarce, and teachers leave.

I'm certainly tired of hearing parents complain about the above - yet still refusing to face reality.

Anonymous wrote:
Then stop bitching about budget cut backs. Every other type of County employee has suffered much worse in this recession than teachers have. I'm tired of hearing teachers cry about it. This is how recessions work. It will get better in a year or so and then salaries and benefits will start going back up. they always do.

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe how many people are angry at us.

It's unbelievable.

I have no reason to drive across country. I'm fine here. But thanks for trying to "enlighten" me as to the economic problems the entire country is facing.

What a dim bulb you are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They will have to pay an additional 2% of their salary to the state retirement system. Which amounts to a 2% pay cut since that money is not going to increase retirement benefits in any way. The 2% just means the state pays that much less to the retirement fund. In all essences it was a teacher tax.

This

We're paying extra to balance out the budget b/c the money is not invested in our pensions.

a tax on teachers

The vast majority of US workers have NO pension plan, by the way. Maybe you'd like to be teaching in Nevada, Arizona, Florida, etc.-places that were crushed by the recession. Unlike here which is still a relative Disneyland. Seriously, drive across county sometime.

[Anonymous]

I have never bitched about class size because I understand how basic economics and government financing work. But that's beside the point here. PP wanted to know why people are angry at teachers, and I told her why. No one has gone unscathed in this recession. Most employees feel fortunate to have a job right now. It's hard to listen to constant whining about higher health insurance and pension payments when so many here have been hurt worse or know others who have.

We are all in the economic hell hole together. Suck it up, be a team player, and work through it together. Spreading the pain makes it much easier on everyone, and personally I'd much rather takes furloughs, pay more in benefits, and lose my COLAs than see fellow workers lose their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spreading the pain makes it much easier on everyone, and personally I'd much rather takes furloughs, pay more in benefits, and lose my COLAs than see fellow workers lose their jobs.

I think it would make much more sense to lay off the workers who aren't very good, and provide high pay and benefits to the ones who are good. Good teachers are worth their weight in gold and we need to do everything we can to keep them. Bad teachers shouldn't be teaching. But teachers unions are blocking any attempt to link layoffs or pay to merit.

[Anonymous]

Again, why are we "the little people" arguing among ourselves about who has it the worst? Direct your anger towards Wall Street and our politicians. Last I heard, the CEO's and their ilk are still making a killing. They are kicking back and watching the cock fights.