School Finance Week 4-Part 4 Personnel Salaries

85% of our over $97million dollar budget is staff related costs.   A little over $63 million dollars will be spent this year on instructional costs, which includes teacher salaries.  Due to our competition of such districts as Fort Worth ISD it is imperative that our district maintain a competitive teacher salary in order to recruit quality teaching staff. 

In speaking with my district’s superintendent there positives and negatives to a 5% increase in salary.  On the positive side it provides a short-term morale boost for the staff.  The increase also allows our district to keep up with the market of obtaining and retaining quality staff.  Dr. Powell also sees that it is a gesture to the teachers of their value and importance.  On the negative side the morale boost, mentioned before, is indeed only short-term.  The overall hit to the budget is significant, and does not always get enough boost in morale to offset the cuts made in other areas.  Another negative mentioned by Dr. Powell is the pay increase creates a feeling of obligation and expectation.  For so many years districts were able to provide a step in pay.  Over time teachers became accustomed to receiving the increase in pay, and felt betrayed and let down the year the district was not able to offer such a pay increase