DCPS Teacher Strike?

[Anonymous]

Nope. See you tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

For those in the community who wanted specific information about current salary structures within DCPS, here are some resources collected by a group of concerned teachers.

"This email has been created by a group of concerned teachers who are disappointed in the lack of clear information coming from central office and the DC government. Recently the DCPS central office staff and members of the city government have been sharing incorrect or misleading information about the Washington Teachers’ Union contract negotiating process. It is important for our city and school officials to be held accountable for their lack of transparency, and the information below seeks help with that process.

A few publicly available pieces of information that are important to the discussion are below. Specific sources are cited when necessary.

Washington Teachers’ Union expired contract: http://www.wtulocal6.org/usr/Final%20WTU%20DCPS%20Tentative%20Agreement.pdf

DC Government Public Employee Salary Info (available 2011-2016): https://dchr.dc.gov/public-employee-salary-information

DCPS Organizational Chart (as of February 2017): https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/DCPS%20Organizational%20Chart%20-%20February%202017.pdf

DCPS Salary Scale: https://dcps.dc.gov/page/compensation-and-benefits-teachers

The Facts

The Washington Teachers’ Union has been without a contract since September 30, 2012.

No WTU member has a received a traditional "raise" or cost of living adjustment during the time the contract expired. Many teachers received step increases as they gained teaching experience, but those numbers were generated when the last contract was signed and do not reflect the current economic condition of the district or cost of living.

Teachers at the top of the salary scale are not eligible for step increases, and have been stuck at their current salary level. Regardless of any IMPACT rating, the base salary for our most experienced and skilled teachers has not increased from year-to-year.

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the pay for DCPS teachers is nowhere near as impressive as what the DC government and DCPS central office claim. DC falls behind many states and districts when salary numbers are adjusted for cost of living.

Teachers want and deserve retroactive pay as part of the new contract. DC teachers have received retro pay in the past, and the police and firefighters recently received retroactive pay in their new contracts. The District has continually refused to include retro pay in the new contract.

DCPS has had the money to make a fair contract possible. During the same time period that teachers operated without a contract, the Central Office leadership team expanded and enjoyed an average raise of 36.88%- an average raise of $36,515.30.

The Misinformation

Many DCPS central office employees and city government officials have stated that DC teachers are among the highest paid in the nation. This is not true when adjusted for cost-of-living. In fact, one 2015 analysis by the Kahler Financial Group found that DC teachers are 42nd in the nation in terms of adjusted purchasing power. The data summary from the study can be found here: http://kahlerfinancial.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Teacher-Salary-Chart.pdf. An analysis by the National Center for Policy Analysis found that teachers in the DC metro area lag behind at least 50 other metro areas when adjusted for cost of living: http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/2014_Teacher_Pay_Report-NCPA_MacIver.pdf.

Many DCPS central office employees and city government officials have stated that DC teachers have the quickest path to a six figure salary. However, that path is only available at certain schools, and many DC teachers cannot follow that path. Information on that system can be found here: https://dcps.dc.gov/node/976292

Many DCPS central office employees and city government officials have stated that the DC government doesn't have money to pay teachers. However, the District is in a position of incredible financial strength, so much so that Mayor Bowser has stated that last quarter was the strongest in the city’s fiscal history. For more information, see a recent presentation from the District CFO here: https://cfo.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ocfo/page_content/attachments/Rating%20Agency%20Presentation%20-%20March%202016.pdf

Many DCPS central office employees and city government officials have stated that the DC government doesn't have money to pay teachers. During the exact same time period that WTU members were teaching without a contract, central office staff were receiving salary increases that often exceeded 10 percent per year. Many staff members saw their salaries increase by 30 percent over 5 years. Detailed information on a selection of central office staff is attached and all the data can be viewed here: https://dchr.dc.gov/public-employee-salary-information

Many DCPS central office employees and city government officials have stated that the DC government is not permitted to give retroactive pay to teachers. This is technically incorrect. WTU members have received retro pay in the past and are currently able to receive retro pay under federal laws. Recent communications from the Mayor’s office suggest that DCPS may technically not be able to provide “retroactive pay”, but that they could provide the same financial compensation to teachers by providing a lump sum equivalent to retroactive pay, and then adjusting the base salary moving forward.

The Questions

Why are DCPS central office staff and DC government officials not telling the truth? Do they not believe that teachers deserve cost of living adjustments? Has the DC government simply spent too much money increasing the salaries of central office staff so that they are now left unable to compensate teachers fairly? Or, do they not want to pay teachers what they deserve?

The DCPS central office staff, the city officials involved in the contract negotiating process, and elected officials in the District need to answer the questions above.

Important Notes
This email does not claim to be a complete summation of the issues surrounding the Washington Teachers’ Union contract. We have not yet analyzed the salary of every employee at the DCPS central office so our sample could be flawed. Instead, we began our analysis with employees included in the DCPS organization chart. Nevertheless, the rapid pace with which visible members of the DCPS central office have seen significant raises certainly creates many questions. Recipients of significant raises will inevitably argue that their roles and responsibilities have changed over time. WTU teachers can argue the same. We have constantly seen new initiatives (Cornerstones and LEAP), increases in our class size, and decreases in our planning time.

DCPS states that attracting and retaining exceptional teachers is a priority. The information above suggests that DCPS is unwilling to back their statements with actual action. DC parents and students deserve quality educators, and DCPS has a moral responsibility to support those educators."

[Anonymous]

Thank you. There's some good info in there. As a parent, I'd really like DCPS to treat you all respectfully and work out a contract. I don't see anything unreasonable in what you're asking for.

[Anonymous]

I think that is great that the private school of Sheridan has decided to make this stance. I only wish that DCPS teachers would be so brave! As the DO and the Union have been futile in their efforts to give these well deserving teachers a COLA adjustment or increase for over 4 YEARS! DCPS teachers work their hearts out and to not have a contract for over 4 YEARS with no increases, COLA or otherwise is ludicrous. You better believe that no other DC service has not had an increase! Parents of DC, if you care about your children's education and the people that educate, care for, and influence your children - RISE UP and tell Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Wilson to settle and give what is due to DCPS teachers! COLA and a just RETRO increase for the last 4 years. Ask yourself this, would you want to work with no contract and no increase for four years?

[Anonymous]

Google it. Nothing about strikes and DCPS in 2017.