New Haven Independent

Posted by: Steve M. | December 12, 2009 11:26 AM

Perhaps changes would be easier to make and enforce if we increased accountability where it matters most, paychecks. This upcoming week, the RTM will be voting on a new administrators contract which has been agreed to by the Board of Education, calling for, on average, a 2% yearly raise for the next 3 years for all positions (1% first year, 2.45% second year, 2.55% third year). These positions include all school principals and assistant principals. More than likely this will pass, as the amount at stake is not considered significant, and there are no guarantees the raise amounts will be reduced in arbitration. However, passing this will be a huge mistake.
Consider the following, which compares the state averages for these positions with the new contract numbers. The state average for a High School principal is $123,167.00 (State averages were obtained this week from the Ct Dept. of Education.) The first year of the contract calls for the same position to receive $143,337.00 and the third year of the contract will be $150,594.00. Middle School Principal: State avg.-$119, 005, 1st year Branford $133,889; 3rd year $140,667.00; Elementary Principal: State avg.-$109,918, Branford 1st yr $124,977, 3rd yr $131,304. This worrisome pattern of being between 10 and 20% higher than state averages holds up for Assistant Principal and Director of Pupil Services positions as well.
A vote against these raises is not a vote against the educational system or the teachers. It is a vote to put an end to the typical rubber stamping of raises, especially in a recession. The median income in Branford hovers around $71,000, and with this bill we are guaranteeing raises to some of the highest paid members of the school system, those already making, in some cases, double the town average.
We will hear, as is the norm, RTM members stand and say what we have heard many times before. “I don’t love it, but I’m voting for it.” And maybe they are right. We may not gain much financially if it goes to arbitration, despite the fact, as was read at the meeting discussing this bill, arbitration tends to be coming in more favorably to the municipalities at the moment. But we can, at the very least, make it more difficult to give guaranteed raises for years to come, especially those that are already being paid substantially more than their counterparts throughout the state.
This is a time in Branford where there is a great deal of unrest, especially among the parents of local students, regarding test scores. As was put so well at the December 8th meeting of the RTM Education Committee, these administrators are the “teachers of the teachers.” Ultimately, these administrators are responsible for the teaching methods used, and the effectiveness of the teachers themselves. Even without the current economic climate, the raises proposed should bring great pause. In the current economic climate, they should be considered a disgrace.
Therefore, it is time for the RTM, which represents the people, to make a stand. Make it clear that the patter of rubberstamping teacher and administrator contracts is over. In fact, at the Board of Education meeting where this was discussed, there were members that did not even realize this needed to be approved by the RTM. The RTM simply cannot continue to be ignored by those looking for more cash in their pockets, making those they represent an afterthought in the process. The cycle must be stopped now.
This will be voted on December 16 at 8:00 P.M. Decisions are made by those that show up.

Posted by: fassett | December 14, 2009 10:25 AM

Good analysis, Steve. However, the two contracts that matter a great deal are the ones that the town can not negotiate or vote on - the superintendent and the assistant superintendent.

Accountability has to be top down and down up, but the buck stops with the superintendent AND the BOE who have presented a whitewashed 'state of the schools' report. It's shameful.

For any of this to change, though, parents must become vocal advocates for their children's education, demand the changes necessary, scrutinze BOE proposals especially if it involves increases to the budget, and be willing to accept an increase if the solution can be demonstrated to yield REAL results. No more educational legerdomain.

Posted by: Steve M. | December 14, 2009 11:43 AM

I completely agree. My approach was less from the educational side, but from the town budget side. In a recession, giving more guaranteed money to those already paid 6 figures and are paid substantially more than the state average for those positions is a disgrace. If we don't vote this down now, what will we vote down? When and where do we take a stand?

On the educational side, it was encouraging to see the standing-room-only crown at the last BOE meeting. Only by getting more people involved will there be any increase in accountability. And that is why more than anything else, starting with this new contract for the administrators, it is so important to show up.