As a teacher in Broward County for 14 years, I agree with the Sept. 12 op-ed, “Pay veteran teachers what they’re worth,” in that most teachers work very hard and deserve a raise in these trying economic times.
However, I believe the writer is way off-base in many of her points regarding our school district. The legacy of any School Board or superintendent is to have the highest achieving students possible. This is done by attracting, retaining and training the best available teachers. The notion that Superintendent James Notter and our School Board spend their days in the “Crystal Palace” frolicking around rooms packed with extra cash reserves and playing Monopoly is simply not true. While I believe, as a system, we should analyze where we can cut costs and compensate employees, I’ve studied the budget and I don’t see the extra money. I believe our district is paying us as much as possible while still trying to run a balanced budget so we don’t end up in a disastrous financial predicament like our neighbors in Miami-Dade County.
The writer says she’s a National Board certified teacher, but then scoffs at teacher training as inane and silly. I know a huge focus of being board certified is training, growth and development as a teacher. Despite the cuts from our state, our district funds National Board teachers more than most districts and will pay up to $10,000 to those willing to work in our Title 1 schools. In fact, all recognized educational organizations stress the importance of teacher training and development in terms of increasing student performance.
The writer, like many teachers, seems to vent her frustration toward the K.C. Wright (crystal palace) central district office. Yes, it is a beautiful building from the outside, and inside you’ll find people hard at work just like at our schools.
Why not focus our frustration on the teacher salary schedule? Our pay scale that the Broward Teachers Union pushed so strongly for is the most ridiculous instrument I’ve ever seen. A teacher like the writer who moves from her seventh to eighth year might see an increase in her salary of a few dollars, but a teacher moving from her 20th to 21st year might see a $9,000 annual increase.
Shame on our state for not funding education properly. People in this state sure seem to complain about education, but they won’t fund it. I congratulate Mr. Notter and our School Board for trying to run a tight ship, and I beg them not to consider dipping into district reserves to pay for raises they can’t afford.
James Tomich teaches at Falcon Cove Middle School in Weston.
