APS Pay lags ACPS, FCC, FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with APS as well as all other districts in the area is that in the past 12 or so years, school systems have frozen the pay scale and have not given step increases many times. So dedicated, loyal teachers area up to 4-5 steps below their actual years of experience. Prior to 2009, COLA adjustments and steps were a given each year- it’s how teacher progress just like feds who move up the pay ladder. The COL in Arlington is way higher than surrounding counties- maybe comparable to Alexandria but our pay has not kept up. I did the math, for my years of experience and degree, I should be on a step making over $20,000 more than I do now. The other part that super insulting, a new hire with my years of experience would make that amount and someone with 4 fewer years would make the same as me. APS loses tons of teachers to FCPS because it’s cheaper to live there/they already live there and most teachers would make more because they would get hired at the step level they should be at, even if their scale is slightly lower than APS. It’s going to catch up with them soon- they need to start giving extra steps to teachers hired in certain time frames.

This. Teachers who have been there for 10 years have never received a raise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with APS as well as all other districts in the area is that in the past 12 or so years, school systems have frozen the pay scale and have not given step increases many times. So dedicated, loyal teachers area up to 4-5 steps below their actual years of experience. Prior to 2009, COLA adjustments and steps were a given each year- it’s how teacher progress just like feds who move up the pay ladder. The COL in Arlington is way higher than surrounding counties- maybe comparable to Alexandria but our pay has not kept up. I did the math, for my years of experience and degree, I should be on a step making over $20,000 more than I do now. The other part that super insulting, a new hire with my years of experience would make that amount and someone with 4 fewer years would make the same as me. APS loses tons of teachers to FCPS because it’s cheaper to live there/they already live there and most teachers would make more because they would get hired at the step level they should be at, even if their scale is slightly lower than APS. It’s going to catch up with them soon- they need to start giving extra steps to teachers hired in certain time frames.

This. Teachers who have been there for 10 years have never received a raise.

That’s not true. I’ve been with APS 4 years and got a step and COLA after my first year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the grass is greener...just go to DCPS.

Now that’s going too far!! 😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ Have you been reading the post about impact over there on their forum! Def not worth the hassle though have to admit am jealous of those making $116k!

[Anonymous]

Shouldn’t it? They did nothing from March-September 2020

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t it? They did nothing from March-September 2020

Well, between this and crummy pay, no wonder teachers are leaving.

So will they have to increase class sizes because of staffing shortfalls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with APS as well as all other districts in the area is that in the past 12 or so years, school systems have frozen the pay scale and have not given step increases many times. So dedicated, loyal teachers area up to 4-5 steps below their actual years of experience. Prior to 2009, COLA adjustments and steps were a given each year- it’s how teacher progress just like feds who move up the pay ladder. The COL in Arlington is way higher than surrounding counties- maybe comparable to Alexandria but our pay has not kept up. I did the math, for my years of experience and degree, I should be on a step making over $20,000 more than I do now. The other part that super insulting, a new hire with my years of experience would make that amount and someone with 4 fewer years would make the same as me. APS loses tons of teachers to FCPS because it’s cheaper to live there/they already live there and most teachers would make more because they would get hired at the step level they should be at, even if their scale is slightly lower than APS. It’s going to catch up with them soon- they need to start giving extra steps to teachers hired in certain time frames.

This. Teachers who have been there for 10 years have never received a raise.

That’s not true. I’ve been with APS 4 years and got a step and COLA after my first year

Someone who’s been with APS 4 years doesn’t have the income gap of someone who’s been there for 12+ years. We had many step freezes and I believe only 2 COL scale adjustments. The COL in Arlington has skyrocketed in the past 15 years- but teacher pay has not kept up due to the freezes. Teachers hired before 2009 have had it the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with APS as well as all other districts in the area is that in the past 12 or so years, school systems have frozen the pay scale and have not given step increases many times. So dedicated, loyal teachers area up to 4-5 steps below their actual years of experience. Prior to 2009, COLA adjustments and steps were a given each year- it’s how teacher progress just like feds who move up the pay ladder. The COL in Arlington is way higher than surrounding counties- maybe comparable to Alexandria but our pay has not kept up. I did the math, for my years of experience and degree, I should be on a step making over $20,000 more than I do now. The other part that super insulting, a new hire with my years of experience would make that amount and someone with 4 fewer years would make the same as me. APS loses tons of teachers to FCPS because it’s cheaper to live there/they already live there and most teachers would make more because they would get hired at the step level they should be at, even if their scale is slightly lower than APS. It’s going to catch up with them soon- they need to start giving extra steps to teachers hired in certain time frames.

This. Teachers who have been there for 10 years have never received a raise.

That’s not true. I’ve been with APS 4 years and got a step and COLA after my first year

Someone who’s been with APS 4 years doesn’t have the income gap of someone who’s been there for 12+ years. We had many step freezes and I believe only 2 COL scale adjustments. The COL in Arlington has skyrocketed in the past 15 years- but teacher pay has not kept up due to the freezes. Teachers hired before 2009 have had it the worst.

Between 2008 and 2020, or so, enrollment was growing from 800-1000 kids a year and they had to build a number of new schools/add tons of capacity to existing schools. They could have increased class sizes a LOT to keep costs down and decrease the amount of new construction, but the argument was that it was better to keep class sizes down--which meant more teachers and more new capacity, which meant the budget could not be used for raises. That was the tradeoff, class size increases or salary increases. Not saying it was fair or the same tradeoff teachers would have made (and there was a third option, which was somehow persuade the county to raise taxes and fund it all), but its what they decided to do at the time.

Class size increases were modest even though APS enrollment went from 18,500 in 2008 to over 28,000 in 2020 (over 50 percent increase). The budget went from $450M to $750M in the same timeframe, which is a 60 percent increase but I don't think county revenue went up that much--maybe it did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with APS as well as all other districts in the area is that in the past 12 or so years, school systems have frozen the pay scale and have not given step increases many times. So dedicated, loyal teachers area up to 4-5 steps below their actual years of experience. Prior to 2009, COLA adjustments and steps were a given each year- it’s how teacher progress just like feds who move up the pay ladder. The COL in Arlington is way higher than surrounding counties- maybe comparable to Alexandria but our pay has not kept up. I did the math, for my years of experience and degree, I should be on a step making over $20,000 more than I do now. The other part that super insulting, a new hire with my years of experience would make that amount and someone with 4 fewer years would make the same as me. APS loses tons of teachers to FCPS because it’s cheaper to live there/they already live there and most teachers would make more because they would get hired at the step level they should be at, even if their scale is slightly lower than APS. It’s going to catch up with them soon- they need to start giving extra steps to teachers hired in certain time frames.

This. Teachers who have been there for 10 years have never received a raise.

That’s not true. I’ve been with APS 4 years and got a step and COLA after my first year

Someone who’s been with APS 4 years doesn’t have the income gap of someone who’s been there for 12+ years. We had many step freezes and I believe only 2 COL scale adjustments. The COL in Arlington has skyrocketed in the past 15 years- but teacher pay has not kept up due to the freezes. Teachers hired before 2009 have had it the worst.

Ok, but it’s false to say there haven’t been any raises in 10 years

[Anonymous]

Just leave - Go!!! APS has plenty of applications to fill your spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just leave - Go!!! APS has plenty of applications to fill your spot.

Do you just revel in being loud and wrong all the time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just leave - Go!!! APS has plenty of applications to fill your spot.

Do you just revel in being loud and wrong all the time?

You really aren't as special as you think you are. In most cases apps are replacing teachers for actual learning.

Basically overpaid babysitters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just leave - Go!!! APS has plenty of applications to fill your spot.

Is that why there are so many positions that have been reposted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with APS as well as all other districts in the area is that in the past 12 or so years, school systems have frozen the pay scale and have not given step increases many times. So dedicated, loyal teachers area up to 4-5 steps below their actual years of experience. Prior to 2009, COLA adjustments and steps were a given each year- it’s how teacher progress just like feds who move up the pay ladder. The COL in Arlington is way higher than surrounding counties- maybe comparable to Alexandria but our pay has not kept up. I did the math, for my years of experience and degree, I should be on a step making over $20,000 more than I do now. The other part that super insulting, a new hire with my years of experience would make that amount and someone with 4 fewer years would make the same as me. APS loses tons of teachers to FCPS because it’s cheaper to live there/they already live there and most teachers would make more because they would get hired at the step level they should be at, even if their scale is slightly lower than APS. It’s going to catch up with them soon- they need to start giving extra steps to teachers hired in certain time frames.

This. Teachers who have been there for 10 years have never received a raise.

That’s not true. I’ve been with APS 4 years and got a step and COLA after my first year

Someone who’s been with APS 4 years doesn’t have the income gap of someone who’s been there for 12+ years. We had many step freezes and I believe only 2 COL scale adjustments. The COL in Arlington has skyrocketed in the past 15 years- but teacher pay has not kept up due to the freezes. Teachers hired before 2009 have had it the worst.

I believe teachers should be well paid. However, I tire of the whining about lack of raises and COLAs. It isn't the only profession that's lacked those for several years. Federal employees have had periods of no COLAs or raises. My spouse went 4 years without any increase in income. And APS' benefit packages tend to be ignored by the teacher association and its main advocate. It's more complicated than just straight salary scale, folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The problem with APS as well as all other districts in the area is that in the past 12 or so years, school systems have frozen the pay scale and have not given step increases many times. So dedicated, loyal teachers area up to 4-5 steps below their actual years of experience. Prior to 2009, COLA adjustments and steps were a given each year- it’s how teacher progress just like feds who move up the pay ladder. The COL in Arlington is way higher than surrounding counties- maybe comparable to Alexandria but our pay has not kept up. I did the math, for my years of experience and degree, I should be on a step making over $20,000 more than I do now. The other part that super insulting, a new hire with my years of experience would make that amount and someone with 4 fewer years would make the same as me. APS loses tons of teachers to FCPS because it’s cheaper to live there/they already live there and most teachers would make more because they would get hired at the step level they should be at, even if their scale is slightly lower than APS. It’s going to catch up with them soon- they need to start giving extra steps to teachers hired in certain time frames.

This. Teachers who have been there for 10 years have never received a raise.

That’s not true. I’ve been with APS 4 years and got a step and COLA after my first year

Someone who’s been with APS 4 years doesn’t have the income gap of someone who’s been there for 12+ years. We had many step freezes and I believe only 2 COL scale adjustments. The COL in Arlington has skyrocketed in the past 15 years- but teacher pay has not kept up due to the freezes. Teachers hired before 2009 have had it the worst.

Ok, but it’s false to say there haven’t been any raises in 10 years

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just leave - Go!!! APS has plenty of applications to fill your spot.

Is that why there are so many positions that have been reposted?

Because they are are looking for teachers who are not like the dinosaurs they have.