Recognizing Teachers and School Staff Vital on March 13

Last March, we missed out on an important opportunity.  This March, we can rectify that missed opportunity by passing Articles 4-7 on the School Ballot.   These warrants propose very modest pay increases for teachers, assistants, secretaries, and custodians which were narrowly defeated last March.

Our school staff needs to be recognized, and not with just a gift at the holidays or during Staff Appreciation Week.  These are the people we entrust to care for our children six hours every day.  Not only are they required to ensure the educational development of our children, but they also play a crucial role in their social and emotional development.  These educators engage in building our children’s future.  In addition, teachers spend countless hours planning curriculum and preparing for each new week.  They also have families of their own – they depend on us for their livelihood.  We are their employer, and we have a responsibility to recognize their hard work and dedication with monetary increases.

Teachers, nurses and assistants have not received salary increases since 2008, and secretaries and custodians have not received increases since 2007.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of living in the northeastern U.S. rose 0.5 percent in 2008, 3 percent in 2009, 1.6 percent in 2010, and 2.9 percent in 2011, for a total of 8 percent in the past four years.  Food costs alone increased 4.4 percent in 2011. 

Social Security recipients received cost-of-living adjustments of 2.3 percent in 2007, 5.8 percent in 2008, and 3.6 percent in 2011.  That adds up to an almost 12 percent increase since 2007, yet our teachers and staff are actually experiencing a loss in their effective income because they’ve had no salary adjustment, are paying higher health insurance premiums and co-pays, and the cost of living has increased.  Teachers also reach into their own pockets for additional classroom supplies and educational enhancements, further reducing their disposable income. 

The contention that school employees shouldn’t receive raises because “no one has had a raise in the past few years” doesn’t represent the facts.  Data from the New Hampshire Department of Education show that overall, Salem’s teacher salaries have lost ground over the past few years, compared to surrounding communities, and are increasingly falling below the median average in almost all step categories.  Salem’s teachers have not seen a raise since the 2008-2009 school year, yet the neighboring communities of Windham, Pelham, Londonderry, Derry, Nashua, Manchester, and Merrimack have all seen at least one increase since then, and many have seen two.  This disparity seriously impacts the ability of our school district to attract and retain high quality educators.

Salem has one of the lowest tax rates in southern New Hampshire, favorable class sizes sitting at state averages, and some of the lowest per-pupil costs.  Regular salaries in the proposed 2012-13 school budget will be reduced by over $500,000 through attrition and elimination of positions.  Proposed salary increases for all staff categories are 2 percent or less and are not nearly keeping pace with the cost of living.

Our school employees work hard for modest compensation.  They do not have opportunities for regular promotion.  And they have not seen raises when cost-of-living increases have far outdistanced their compensation.  They are an important part of our lives, and we need to give back to them by voting YES at the polls.  Salem also needs to stay competitive with surrounding communities in order to remain vital.  Please vote YES on the School Articles, March 13.