Teacher salary discussion

This letter is in response to Mr. Wade with hope that it will bring him more than a “basic fundamental understanding” of the new state funding plan.

The reference to how teachers can make more by working in other districts is nothing new to the educational system. Districts in higher property value areas could collect additional funds, which afforded them the ability to provide additional paid days to their teaching staff.

This gave those teachers higher salaries than their counterparts located in areas with lower property values.

The new system puts the responsibility of negotiating salaries into the hands of the districts and staffs. The funds provided are not equal across the board. Some districts received up to an additional 10 percent of extra monies based on location and teacher tenure.

Our district did not receive any extra money. That fact coupled with the changing state government funding referenced by Senator Mark Schoesler, makes for a tricky balancing act between districts and staff.

Add in the loss of income from the lower levels of property taxes being collected and all parties must look at the present and the future of their districts.

We, in Washtucna, feel lucky to have a supportive school board and administration who worked intentionally with us in partnership to come up with a 15.6 percent raise for our teachers, which is competitive and better than some nearby districts.

We worked together for what was in the best interest of our staff, students and district for the present and the future. The teaching staff was in the loop throughout the negotiating process and were able to respond as negotiations progressed.

The final decision to accept our agreed upon salary schedule was shared by the teaching staff, not just the negotiating team.

We appreciate the sentiment that teachers in small schools must work harder than those in larger districts. Each district has its advantages and disadvantages.

We feel blessed with our small class sizes and the individualized attention students receive. Our high school schedule is built around our students’ needs and wishes.

We are able to provide high level classes including college level courses and two separate foreign languages. Our students from grades K-12 all have access to their own Chromebooks, with expansion into our pre-school this year.

Therefore with the availability of technology in our district we can only surmise Mr. Wade’s comments about having to “put in more personal time to procuring resources” as simply the natural state of any new teacher to any district.

In conclusion, we would like to say that we are proud of the raises that all of our teachers will be receiving this year. We feel we have stayed competitive with our neighboring districts, many whose numbers were not shared in the Spokesman Review.

We are equally proud of our staff for their dedication to our students and district.

Staci Gloyn and Debbie Sitton, Washtucna