I'm a teacher that quit and here's what I think.

1) rent and house prices make it almost impossible for a teacher of 7-10 years that isn't married to afford to live on their own in a decent space. At age 30-32 I feel like I am past the point of wanting to live with a roommate.

2) I make less out in the suburbs but can afford more because of rent prices/home prices

3) I don't have to deal with IMPACT in the suburbs which is worth $$$.

So there you go. If you want to keep teachers, the district needs to do things to retain teachers.

^ ETA: Comparing salaries for 2017-18.

Fwiw, the info cited by a PP for NYC is out of date. According to teachnyc.net, "from 2015 to 2018, all salary steps will increase about 13 percent." The difference in starting salary for a new teacher with MA (or BA/BS+30) is about 7k.

Just saw an email from Liz Davis saying there will be news about the contract tomorrow morning.

I made roughly $55k in DCPS two years ago. $63k if you count the money made in overtime due to mandatory class coverage during my planning period everyday for a year (We lost a ton of staff midyear). If I didn't have kids or student loans, I would've been living the good life.

I think DCPS teachers who work in schools with behavior problems deserve more money. Think of it as hazard pay. I know of at least five teachers who were beat up by students and placed on medical leave for at least a few weeks.

I switched to a school in the suburbs where the working environment is night and day. My base is now $51k. It's a hell of a paycut if you factor in the overtime I used to get, but I have so much more peace of mind.

Anonymous wrote:When the last contract was approved, the salary scale was very attractive compared to surrounding districts. With no new contract, the salary schedule hasn't been adjusted for COL in 5+ years, so the DCPS salaries are not as competitive as they once were. The salaries may look great, but the reality is that DCPS teachers confront certain challenges that are less of an issue in other districts. (No need to enumerate them here, since they are discussed regularly by parents on other threads.) At my school, an increasing number of talented, valued colleagues leave our schools each year because the stress or disfunction is too exhausting. Perhaps a salary increase and retroactive pay wouldn't keep all of these great teachers in DCPS, but the years of delay tactics from DCPS management (while teaching positions are cut, class sizes increase, and expectations mount) have certainly made it easier to say goodbye. Why wouldn't the District want to ensure that effective teachers feel appreciated and well compensated? Grateful for those in our community who are supporting teachers -- thank you!

DCPS starting salary is within $500 of NYC salary (source: http://www.nctq.org/districtPolicy/contractDatabase/district.do?id=46) so please share how the current starting salary is not competitive and/or how DCPS teachers may confront challenges that are unlike counterparts in a comparable metropolitan area like NYC.

I am not concerned. Many people do not have the opportunity to negotiate contracts for their existing jobs.

Many teachers left our WOTP school at the end of last year. More left during the summer. Parents may become more concerned when/if one of their student's teachers is listed as 'tbd" and the class has been assigned to a sub while new hires are recruited and vetted by downtown. NOT a great way to start off the year.

Anonymous wrote:It's so ironic that there are posts here complaining about teacher turnover and also posts basically saying teachers should stop complaining and be happy without a cost of living raise.

Got it.

If you don't want your teachers to move to easier teaching jobs out in the suburbs then you shouldn't be okay with no new contract.

I'm a teacher but have concluding that no one much cares about this issue, except DCPS teachers! Sadly, there is a steady stream of newbie teachers every year willing to fill the seats exited by the leaving teachers; unfortunately, most teachers exit from the title I schools and those parents for the most part don't have the Chancellor's ear. WOTP is relatively stable, and so this will continue until it impacts the school as a whole. I mean for the last 10 years or maybe more CHEC has had teachers turnover at more than 50% and nothing has been done about it, in fact the principal was made principal of the year and is a rising star - so go figure

It's so ironic that there are posts here complaining about teacher turnover and also posts basically saying teachers should stop complaining and be happy without a cost of living raise.

Got it.

If you don't want your teachers to move to easier teaching jobs out in the suburbs then you shouldn't be okay with no new contract.

When the last contract was approved, the salary scale was very attractive compared to surrounding districts. With no new contract, the salary schedule hasn't been adjusted for COL in 5+ years, so the DCPS salaries are not as competitive as they once were. The salaries may look great, but the reality is that DCPS teachers confront certain challenges that are less of an issue in other districts. (No need to enumerate them here, since they are discussed regularly by parents on other threads.) At my school, an increasing number of talented, valued colleagues leave our schools each year because the stress or disfunction is too exhausting. Perhaps a salary increase and retroactive pay wouldn't keep all of these great teachers in DCPS, but the years of delay tactics from DCPS management (while teaching positions are cut, class sizes increase, and expectations mount) have certainly made it easier to say goodbye. Why wouldn't the District want to ensure that effective teachers feel appreciated and well compensated? Grateful for those in our community who are supporting teachers -- thank you!

It's not a priority because the old contract seems to be working fine. Convince us why it should be a priority.

Don't care. Teachers are not overpaid but are paid well and do not deserve retro.

Salary schedule is aligned with the highest paid in the country.

Your union is outdated and greedy.

It's shameful. But most DCPS parents don't care, and seem to suspect that the teachers are overpaid (they are not).

I've contacted the mayor and my council member weekly urging a contract w/retro pay for the teachers.

I hope others will join me.

Why is this not a priority for the Mayor and the Chancellor?