Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Oakland Teachers Want 15 Percent Raise
Politics / Education Robert Gammon — Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 10:18 AM
In a time of widespread pay cuts and historic unemployment, the Oakland teachers’ union is asking for a 15 percent raise over three years. The Trib reports that the union wants five percent salary schedule increases in each of the next three years. The union announced yesterday that it had rejected the latest contract proposal from the school district that included no pay raises, calling it “unconscionable.” The move brings the union one step closer to a strike.
Historically, the teachers’ union has enjoyed the backing of Oakland parents, but their inability to grasp the statewide financial crisis and their desire for large raises during a steep recession may jeopardize that support. According to the Trib, the district has to slash $27 million from its budget next year because of state budget cuts.
Comments (13)
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I'm at a loss as to how this article is in any way impartial. As a bay area homeowner, I can't think of a better use of my property taxes than to bring Oakland schoolteachers at least a little closer to the pay rate they deserve. As I understand it, $87 million in my tax payor money went to outside learning consultants; meanwhile, the total percentage paid to Oakland teachers' cost of living adjustments has been a mere 1.75% increase, and they're still receiving the lowest compensation rate in all of Alameda County unified. Add to that the fact that I know far too many teachers who are paying out-of-pocket for basic school supplies, teaching in rundown buildings (some without heat), and still maxing out at $71K a year (even with more than 90 credits in addition to a BA), I can't think of very many people more deserving of a raise. I would appreciate a bit more impartiality when approaching future reporting on this matter. An equal examination of both sides of the issue is a core competency I am happy to say I learned in public school.
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The East Bay Express will print anything that it's told with no fact checking whatsoever! The Oakland Unified School District wastes over 80 million dollars per year while classrooms leak, have no heat or air conditioning, bathrooms have no toilet paper, students have no books. Now they want to cut 10% of our already lowest salary, while they keep raising administrator's pay.
It IS "unconscionable" that teachers in Oakland are 17th out of the 17 surrounding districts as far as compensation. What's fair about that? What's fair about asking teachers to continue to pick up the slack, pour money out of their own shrinking pockets, and then listen to the district say "There's no money"? It really is a question of priorities. Do we really need a top-heavy district? Or can we rely on the brilliance of our own teachers to run our schools, provide our professional development inservices, and figure out how to engage even the most reluctant learners? It's a clear choice, but does our Board have the political will to make it happen??
I'm an Oakland resident, PARENT, and tax payer. I am not a teacher, although I am somewhat familiar with this debate.
Hmmm... 15% raise. Let's see... average teacher's salary is roughly $45,000 a year. By the third year that raise will amount to more than $6500 a year. Let's say OUSD doesn't hire consultants (gasp!). Divide that raise into $85 million, and you could offer this amount to more than 13,000 teachers! Of course, there are only a few thousand teaching in the OUSD, so maybe you could even provide heating in classrooms! Perhaps even dry erase boards! I realize, of course, that these are decadent luxuries during California's fiscal crisis. Students and teachers will just have to suck it up, as Gammon essentially tells us.
Plus, to reallocate this money, you would have to entertain the ridiculous belief that consultants' fees were wasted, when we can all see that thanks to firms like Kagan Cooperative Learning and Si-Swn, these are the halcyon years for the OUSD.
Judging by his rhetoric, it seems as if Gammon would rather have for-profit charter schools in Oakland. This would get rid of the teachers' unions, as well as those pesky "under-achieving" students who score too low on standardized tests!
Mr. Garron, Please do your homework. We all know that the state and district is a mess financially. The issue you have failed to disclose is the fact that teachers were told the last time we narrowly avoided a strike that if we just approved the contract, the district would make it worth our while the next time we negotiated a contract. At the time, the district was a mess financially. Nothing has changed, except the fact that the district can find money to spend on HUGE ticket consulting items. Ask just about any Oakland teacher how they think the district is doing on "fiscal responsibility," and I guarantee you that most think the downtown decisions are an insult to the children and teachers in Oakland. Frankly, I am completely amazed at the quality people teaching the children of Oakland. I can't believe that people continue to work under such adverse conditions.
I'm a Kindergarten teacher in Oakland. There are 23 kids in my class. Next year, there will most likely be 27 kids in my class. When I was in Kindergarten, yes, there were roughly that many kids in my class. The difference being that Kindergarten was half day, there was a partner teacher to help out AND an aide. Also, we were learning the basics; the shapes, letters, numbers, not eating the paste. Now Kindergarteners are expected and held accountable to standards that are developmentally inappropriate, essentially what used to be 1st grade standards. The people down at the District office wouldn't last an hour, let alone a whole day trying to wrangle and teach Kindergarteners.
Needless to say, I'm not in the teaching profession so I can become a multi-millionaire. What I do expect, is to be treated and paid like the professional that I am. 5% for the next three years wouldn't even put me at the median of what teachers make in the East Bay. Being in the lowest teacher paying school district wouldn't be so insulting if it weren't for the fact that under the state's takeover, the books were never reconcilied, millions of dollars were handed over to cronies and corroporations, and the district is in deeper dept now than it was when the state took over in the first place.
So, excuse me if I find the tone of The East Bay Express assessment of the OEA's demands a little demeaning. I'm just a teacher, trying to shape Oakland's future by education its children.
Teachers in Oakland, when the district first went into debt, accepted a pay cut. The state of California took over and instead of fixing the debt caused it to rise by quite a bit. The pay cut was not repaid! The district does not and has not given the cost of living increases that are supposed to be provided to the staff of the district. When the contract went through three years ago teachers got a minimal raise that really only covered the days added to the school year for us to work. The teachers also accepted having to pay part of their health care premium. Oakland is breaking the state's education code by paying only 44% of the money the district is allotted to staff in the classroom. State code requires 55% of funds allotted to classroom staff. Oakland Unified talks a lot about retaining teachers but is unwilling to put the money behind it. The district chooses to lose teachers and constantly have to retrain new teachers. The district chooses to put money to people who do not work in the classroom rather than draw high quality teachers who have previous experience or quality training. The measure E funds have not been monitored since the state of California took over. As a property owner in Oakland that makes me angry. The fact the district does not see classrooms as the priority for the spending of the funds it has makes me angry. The fact that the district is trying to remove special programs such as music or P.E. from the children of Oakland's education makes me angry. The fact that the State Appointed Trustees' salaries seem to have raised by around $100,000 in the last 8 years makes me angry. The teacher's in Oakland are paid the least of all districts in the area. The money that could be used to raise the teacher's pay quite comfortably is being spent on consultants that are being used for things that many teachers in Oakland are quite qualified to do and already do.
Looks like Betty Olson-Jones saw this post. Let's see how quick it hits 100 comments. On your mark, get set, GO!
This article is an insult! Talk to any Oakland teacher and see what it's like. Teaching in Oakland is not just a job, but a lifestyle. Not only are we responsible for teaching students core curriculum (without basic resources such as paper, textbooks, pencils etc.), but we act as counselors, social workers, nurses etc. This is no 9-5. Oakland teachers are the front line, every day fighting a battle that those in power want us to lose. But we continue. We fight for equity, social justice, change. And our fire is the hope that we can empower young people to be the change that they want to see. It's already a hard fight. Many of our students are disadvantaged; products of an education system that has failed them for years. For many, we are their last hope. And so we spend our own money to buy books so they can have something to read. We buy pencils so they can have the opportunity to write. Many of us buy food so they can have the opportunity to eat.
And the magic of Oakland teachers is that we have spirit. And are united. When we see a district that is FAILING to put students first - we are saying "no."
We are in the middle of an economic crisis - yes. But when OUSD pays upwards of $85 MILLION for outside consultants, we are saying "NO!"
OUSD's slogan of "Every student, every classroom, every day" - put your money where your mouth is. Give the funding to every student, in every classroom, every day.
I am an Oakland school teacher. Whats "unconscionable" is that that East Bay Express isn't behind the teachers on this one. Public school teachers in Oakland get paid less than most of the Bay Area, yet have higher cost of living than much of the Bay Area, and have already suffered larger class sizes and fewer resources as a result of this economy. Getting for a 5% raise per year should be the MINIMUM, especially considering how little Oakland teachers are paid compared to other urban districts. It may help stem the high turnover of teachers frustrated with the problems that stem from lack of resources at their schools. How much the community values their teachers is really HOW MUCH THEY VALUE THEIR CHILDREN. Short-change the adults who work with Oakland's youth 40+ hours a week (plus another 10-20 at home preparing, grading, etc), and Oakland's youth will be the ones who suffer. What SHOULD be happening is more support for teachers, more teachers hired with more pay, smaller classrooms and accountable administrators, school nurses, social workers, counselors and parent liasons. MORE, dear public, not less, or it is your kids who will not graduate, will not pass go and will not collect $200.
A fellow Colleague said it best. " Your Child's learning conditions, is their teachers working conditions."
Oakland teachers are paid the least out of all Unified School Districts in Alameda County yet the State Appointed Trustee Salary and benefits are $311,357.00.
It is wrong that the district pays Millions to out of state consultants when our district's teachers are rich in knowledge and experience. It is wrong that even after state take over, our debt has doubled!
The Money is there! Don't let the Media fool you. The District continues to take from your children's teachers and school budgets and yet they still expect its teachers to increase school test scores. For the sake of your children's education please support your teachers. The money is there, Its a Matter of Priorities!
Last year Oakland Unified School District paid outside consultants like Kagan Cooperative Learning and Si Swun math $87 million dollars to run professional developments that used to be led by master teachers at school sites, such as those with National Board Certification. Every day, countless teachers work in illegal conditions, including lack of heat, paper, and textbooks. Since 2002, the total cost-of-living adjustment has been 1.75%. A teacher who works for 26 years in OUSD and has 90 credits past a BA, the equivalent of a PhD, makes less than $71,000 per year. The raise requested would cost the district less than a third of what the spent on consultant contracts for activities such as teaching teachers copyrighted names for turning to your partner or going around in a circle and answering a question. The money is there; it's a question of priorities.
If we did get a 15% raise, we would still be making less than most Bay
Area and California teachers, working for a District that gets more money per pupil than any other local District.
An Oakland Teacher
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