FCPS teacher salaries--pathetic

[Anonymous]

What are these three month vacations people speak of?

School gets out LATE June and starts again late August or mere days into September. Plus, all teachers have mandatory work days before kids begin in the fall.

So by my count that's less than 2 months vacation. And seeing as how they're either only receiving checks for when they work or spreading out a thinner paycheck over 12 months, I don't think we can call it a "vacation" anymore than we can call weekends a vacation.

That's right, folks--if the PP didn't make it crystal clear, we ARE NOT PAID during the summer. We are 10-month contract employees who have to turn in our employee badges, keys, etc. when we leave the building in June, and don't get them back until August. (And yes, parents, this is why we might not respond immediately to those mid-summer emails you send us--we are technically between jobs). Saying that we are on vacation during this time suggests a PAID vacation--that is not what the summer is for teachers. Many teachers take on other jobs, or teach summer school to help pay the bills during this period.

[Anonymous]

I'm the Fairfax county employee PP- I don't begrudge the teachers a cent- and agree they're underpaid, however the county has been robbing Peter to pay Paul and enough is enough. Pitting us against one another isnt helpful either. County residents need to read the whole county budget to see what's happening. We are cutting libraries, elder care, etc. Where does it stop?

I'm asked to be happy with my 1.3 percent raise while the BOS gives themselves a 25% increase. School board also got a fat raise. I'm not saying teachers, firefighters, etc don't deserve fair pay- but we ALL do. I provide a specialized skill set required by local,state, and fed law. My branch has sustained 60% cuts since 2007.

Do taxes need to go up? Are we wasteful in certain areas? Do we value libraries, parks? I'm serious- how do we get all of the services we want- including well paid teachers who perform at a high level?

[Anonymous]

I'm glad someone posted this graphic. I also think the comments have been great. Arlington is always lauded as having great schools. They clearly have the right formula there.

[Anonymous]

I left FCPS for one of those other districts. More than the salary, I didn't feel respected as a professional. Everything we did was micromanaged and it was only about test scores and eCart. I couldn't work in that environment. Learning and students are more important. The fact that my salary increased was a bonus.

This. This is something that FCPS can control. They can make the teaching environment better for starters. But they are not doing that.

[Anonymous]

And the gym teacher probably teaches drivers Ed and is the girls basketball coach... It's ridiculous to parse out payscale by subject.

Drivers Ed is part of the regular contract (not extra). It is one quarter (9 weeks) of the 10th grade PE class. Coaches receive stipends. Coaching is outside of the contract.

English teachers should not be paid more, but they should probably have lower class sizes. Teaching someone to write requires analysis of their writing and strategic teaching that is more specific to the individual's needs. In order to do it right, time is involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are these three month vacations people speak of?

School gets out LATE June and starts again late August or mere days into September. Plus, all teachers have mandatory work days before kids begin in the fall.

So by my count that's less than 2 months vacation. And seeing as how they're either only receiving checks for when they work or spreading out a thinner paycheck over 12 months, I don't think we can call it a "vacation" anymore than we can call weekends a vacation.

True. But many, many people make the same amount of money or less and are expected to be at the job for a full 50 weeks or so per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Fairfax county employee PP- I don't begrudge the teachers a cent- and agree they're underpaid, however the county has been robbing Peter to pay Paul and enough is enough. Pitting us against one another isnt helpful either. County residents need to read the whole county budget to see what's happening. We are cutting libraries, elder care, etc. Where does it stop?

I'm asked to be happy with my 1.3 percent raise while the BOS gives themselves a 25% increase. School board also got a fat raise. I'm not saying teachers, firefighters, etc don't deserve fair pay- but we ALL do. I provide a specialized skill set required by local,state, and fed law. My branch has sustained 60% cuts since 2007.

Do taxes need to go up? Are we wasteful in certain areas? Do we value libraries, parks? I'm serious- how do we get all of the services we want- including well paid teachers who perform at a high level?

I would have been fine with a tax rate increase to $1.10. I also wouldn't mind a meals tax.

[Anonymous]

11:51- totally agree. There are so many safety net services that have been dramatically cut over the last several years that folks are not aware of because it does not directly impact them but are necessary for the county to maintain. Teachers vs general county employees have gotten More raises in the last 5 years. Granted, property taxes across the board need to go up but folks have to remember that many elderly who vote in much more significant droves will not support those increases.

[Anonymous]

Arlington has a meals tax.

[Anonymous]

That's right, folks--if the PP didn't make it crystal clear, we ARE NOT PAID during the summer. We are 10-month contract employees who have to turn in our employee badges, keys, etc. when we leave the building in June, and don't get them back until August. (And yes, parents, this is why we might not respond immediately to those mid-summer emails you send us--we are technically between jobs). Saying that we are on vacation during this time suggests a PAID vacation--that is not what the summer is for teachers. Many teachers take on other jobs, or teach summer school to help pay the bills during this period.

Do you get benefits during this time? And, if you don't get paid during the summer, then you are paid a salary for ten months. You do understand that you get about a month off during that time?

I was a teacher and I appreciate very much how hard the job is. However, there are certain benefits that go with the job: time off. Teachers should be paid more than they are, but right now, there really is no money. And, no, I don't want to pay more in taxes.

I do think the stress of all this testing is awful and that it needs to go away.

[Anonymous]

There are no more cuts to be made. Let's be grown-ups here: we need a meals tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That's right, folks--if the PP didn't make it crystal clear, we ARE NOT PAID during the summer. We are 10-month contract employees who have to turn in our employee badges, keys, etc. when we leave the building in June, and don't get them back until August. (And yes, parents, this is why we might not respond immediately to those mid-summer emails you send us--we are technically between jobs). Saying that we are on vacation during this time suggests a PAID vacation--that is not what the summer is for teachers. Many teachers take on other jobs, or teach summer school to help pay the bills during this period.

Do you get benefits during this time? And, if you don't get paid during the summer, then you are paid a salary for ten months. You do understand that you get about a month off during that time?

I was a teacher and I appreciate very much how hard the job is. However, there are certain benefits that go with the job: time off. Teachers should be paid more than they are, but right now, there really is no money. And, no, I don't want to pay more in taxes.

I do think the stress of all this testing is awful and that it needs to go away.

The problem is there is no money. Because the counties are feeling the reduction of federal taxes and the reduction of the car tax. So, county taxes need to go up, to offset the cuts in federal payments....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All teachers also make the same pay regardless of their specialtyz so a gym teacher makes the same as special ed or English with copious amounts of grading!

I'm a specialist teacher in an elementary school. I am responsible for grading (and planning for) over 200 students across several grade levels, compared to a classroom teacher who is only responsible for about 25 students. If you're talking middle or high school, they see a third to half of the students in the school, compared to maybe 100 that the English teacher sees. I don't think you can compare the two and say truthfully that the PE teacher has it easier. They both have their challenges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Montgomery is only 5k more. Whatever. Teachers make a darn good salary when one considers their hours and days of work. Actual work. The teacher workdays are a joke.

Parent here. And Arlington is 25% more. It always amazes me that as a culture we justify paying CEOs millions of dollars regardless of what boneheaded decisions they make, and find ways to demean the people in charge of giving our kids an education.
Whatever. You get what you pay for, folks. I'm glad my kids won't be in FCPS for much longer.

Arlington can afford to pay its teachers more than Fairfax because it has fewer students per tax paying adult. Arlington has less than 10% of its population enrolled in public schools. Fairfax has over 16% of its population in public schools. That is why Arlington's property tax rate is always LOWER than Fairfax's and their per pupil school budget is always higher. I have lived in the area for over 20 years and Arlington, DC and Alexandria have always paid significantly more to teachers. The OP left off Loudoun, Stafford and Prince William Counties- which are always lower than Fairfax.

I do think that Fairfax needs to pay its teachers more, the School Board is certainly for it, the BOS is always reluctant to increase taxes- yet they have shifted an increasingly larger % of their budget to the schools significantly over the past 20 years and cannot anymore. There used to ban almost 50/50 split between the schools and everything else in Fairfax county. EVERYTHING else in the county budget has taken larger hits over the years so the the schools can squeak by. For example the libraries suffered a 40% slash. 40%. The State will never change the current formula that it gives schools- a super majority in the House and Senate benefit from the formula. SO, Fairfax will continue to pay thousands for each public school students outside of its boundaries. The Federal contribution to FCPS is minimal.

I think the gap will continue to get worse and the schools will suffer and then, only then, will people stop moving to FCPS for the schools and we will have a more balanced % of public school students as compared to the adult tax paying population. IMO it is the high % of students first and the state taxation and dispersal formula second that makes it nearly impossible for Fairfax to pay its teachers salaries closer to the WDC area schools.

Arlington County also implements an additional food tax which goes towards funding teachers salaries.

[Anonymous]

So many people think they have the solution to the problem. Have you approached your school boards or the government with these solutions?