While there is so much talk about Melrose teacher salaries, it might be good to have an understanding of how teachers move along steps and lanes. In Melrose, there are 10 steps (related to each year of service) and 10 Lanes (related to education level). The lanes for Melrose are Bachelors, Bachelors +15 credits, Bachelors +30 credits, Bachelors +45 credits, Masters/Bachelors +60 credits, Masters +15 credits, Masters +30 credits, Masters +45 credits, Masters +60 credits, Doctorate. Each move through a step or along a lane results in an increase in pay. It is good to note that the majority of teachers have at least a Master’s Degree.
Here is an example of a Master level teacher who comes into our school system with 3 years of experience (Step 3):
After 1 year of service in Melrose the teacher moves from Step 3 ($55,799) to Step 4 ($58,102) = $2,303 increase in pay (4.13%).
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After 2 years of service in Melrose the teacher moves from Step 4 ($58,102) to Step 5 ($62,062) = $3,960 increase in pay (6.82%).
After 3 years of service in Melrose the teacher moves from Step 5 ($62,062) to Step 6 ($64,367) = $2,305 increase in pay (3.71%).
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What is this over the 3-year period? The total increase for this teacher moving through the steps is $8,568 or 14.66%. This increase is exclusive of the cost of living increase. In the current teacher contract, the cost of living increase has been 1%. This is in addition to the step increases.
Now let’s look at a teacher who starts out with a Bachelor’s Degree and attains a Master’s Degree using same steps:
After the first year the teacher moves from Step 3 Bachelors +45 ($51,471) to Step 4 Masters ($58,102) = $6,631 increase to pay (12.88%).
After 2 years of service in Melrose the teacher is now moving in the Master’s lane from Step 4 ($58,102) to Step 5 ($62,062) = $3,960 increase in pay (6.82%).
After 3 years of service in Melrose the teacher moves from Step 5 ($62,062) to Step 6 ($64,367) = $2,305 increase in pay (3.71%).
What is this increase over the 3-year period? The total increase for this teacher moving not only through the steps but also a lane is $12,896 or 23.41%. Again, this is exclusive of any cost of living increase. Who wouldn’t want that increase?
The source of this data is the current teacher’s contract. These contracts are negotiated by one of the strongest unions in the State on behalf of our teachers. In fact, after the last negotiations both Superintendent Taymore and Mayor Dolan issued a press release expressing their satisfaction with the contract which would allow the schools to attract and retain teachers. Now three (3) years later they’re talking about how they can’t attract and retain teachers. Will they be saying the same thing 3 years from now?
