[See graph below]
The careers of our aging baby-boomer educators in California are coming to a close, and now they have an eye fixed on their retirement.
The local unions are trying to find ways to legally increase (spike) their membership’s upcoming pensions.
One of the latest bargaining proposals brought by the Culver City Federation of Teachers suggests that the District develop “a salary increase formula designed to bring the CCUSD salaries to the median in L.A. County within five years.” It looks like the union has a majority on the School Board who are sympathetic.
Ducks Lined Up
Even though it sounds simple enough and the time-frame is spread over five years, could this really be accomplished? Are there not too many unknowns? Too many moving parts? Wouldn’t the County’s “median salary” continue to be an ever-moving target as other districts change (increase) their employees’ salaries the next few years?
Lend Me Your Ear…
With such a sympathetic Board on their side, this may be the Teacher Union’s best chance in years to have a governing body commit our District to a long-term plan of salary increases. The union probably feels the need to get this written in stone, sooner than later, before the next School Board election. Who knows who will be (re-)elected for the Board next November.
And Some More Money
Should our Board be giving away its fiduciary responsibilities to other county school districts by letting them dictate our spending priorities of our largest District expenditure: Employee compensation?
National Rankings
The latest Quality Counts report from Education Week ranks California a dismal 47th overall in how much it spends per student. This is in stark contrast to the National Education Assn.’s latest national ranking of California as being the 4th highest state in average teacher salary. The other states in the NEA’s top 10 percent – New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey – can also be found listed in the top 10 states in per student spending.
Something to Ponder
While California is in the top 10 percent in annual teacher salary, it is ranked in the bottom 10 percent in pupil spending. This clearly shows just how warped our state's education priorities are and where those limited funds are actually going.
A Surprising Note
Here's an odd fact you won't be hearing from our local teachers union anytime soon: If you were to insert the CCUSD’s current average teacher salary of $64,343 into the NEA’s state salary survey, the CCUSD would be ranked 8th nationally.
| 008–09 Rank | 2009–10 Rank | 2010-11 Rank | State | Average Annual Salary |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | NEW YORK | $72,708 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | MASSACHUSETTS | $70,752 |
| 4 | 3 | 3 | CONNECTICUT | $69,165 |
| 3 | 4 | 4 | CALIFORNIA | $67,871 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | NEW JERSEY | $66,612 |
| 7 | 6 | 6 | D of COLUMBIA | $66,601* |
| 8 | 9 | 7 | ILLINOIS | $64,509 |
| 8 | CCUSD | $64,343 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | MARYLAND | $63,960 |
| 12 | 8 | 9 | MICHIGAN | $63,940* |
| 10 | 10 | 10 | ALASKA | $62,918 |
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
