Dive Brief:
- Indianapolis Public Schools educators are rallying behind "Elevate IPS," a teacher-led group that is pushing for pay raises in the 2015-16 school year.
- Teachers in the district have not received a pay raise in five years, and many involved with the group argue that this financial reality is unfortunately leading to many excellent teachers having to leave the district. According to Elevate IPS, teachers in nearby districts make as much as 10-25% more.
- Many of Elevate IPS's goals are in flux, as the district waits on the state budget. In February, the House approved changes to the state funding formula, which, if passed, by the state's Senate could lead to $18 million in cuts.
Dive Insight:
This past year, the district gave all teachers a one-time $1,500 bonus, but said they couldn't commit to an all-around pay hike because of financial uncertainty. This potential $18-million cut probably isn't going to help anyone.
There is a funny scene in "Mean Girls" where Lindsay Lohan's character runs into her teacher, dressed for a night job at a local chain restaurant, at the mall. While the scene is meant to be comical, it also speaks to a depressing reality: Teachers are not getting paid enough to cover basic necessities, and that is a problem. It's not just about keeping people in the profession or in the district, which of course should be a top priority, but it's about expectations. If a teacher has to work a second job, how can we possibly expect them to be 100% on their game in the classroom? Staying after school to tutor, grading lessons late into the night, and planning lessons are all "off-duty" but very real responsibilities that teachers must handle when the school day is over.
Legislators argue that if a teacher really cared about the kids, they would stop thinking about themselves and raises, but this is wrong. The same way we want to teach our students to advocate for themselves, teachers must set an example, too. Everyone deserves a chance at meaningful work and pay that rewards that work.
Of course, a lot of this is not necessarily in an administrator's hands (i.e, the state budget), but when a school has the option of hiring a slew of new consultants who will "strengthen efficiency" or giving teachers raises, maybe they should think twice. Which of those options will boost district morale, encourage buy-in, and ultimately give teachers time to focus on their school responsibilities?