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05/13/08

TITLE: BETH TWP TRIES TO CLARIFY SCHOOL NEGOTIATIONS - Are the teachers the lowest paid in the county?
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 09:53:36

ARTICLE

The Beth Twp Board has stated the following -

A “fact” sheet has been published that attempts to paint the picture that our teachers are among the lowest paid in Hunterdon County.  Using carefully selected data points, and questionable comparisons, the “fact sheet” attempts to lead the public to this conclusion. After a review of the complete set of facts, it is the Administration and Board’s opinion that this conclusion is factually unsupported.  In an effort to make the facts known to all, the district is providing complete information so that everyone can reach their own individual and independent conclusions.

• Current Salary Information
  • How is Teachers’ Salary determined?
    • Teachers are paid on a salary guide (see next page) that is based on their “Step” (years teaching) and their educational level.
      • Teachers move up to the next “Step,” when they have achieved the required number of years for that “Step.”
      • After 25 years, teachers move to an “Off Guide” Step and their salary continues to increase each year. 
      • They also move across the guide as they complete post-bachelor college credits.  For example; when a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and on Step 8 completes 15 credits their salary increases from $43,933 to $45,233.
        • In addition, the district pays the teachers’ tuition costs as part of their contracted benefits.

• Teachers also receive longevity pay, which is based on the number of years that the teacher is employed by Bethlehem Township. At 10 years they receive an additional $950 annually and at 20 years an additional $300 in addition to the $950.

• Teachers also receive stipends for extra curricular activity.  The amount varies depending upon the activity.  The stipends currently range from $215 to $2413.

• Teachers can also receive a benefits waiver payment if they choose to waive their healthcare benefits.  This payment ranges from $1557 to $3971 per year.  Currently, 25% of our teachers receive this payment.

Bethlehem Township 2006-2007 Salary Guide

·        It is important to recognize that teachers are paid based on placement on a salary guide.  As described previously, teachers continuously move both horizontally and vertically on this guide.  Additionally, all the salaries on this guide increase annually based upon the negotiated increase rate. 

·        Our district is one of only two districts in Hunterdon County that has an “off guide” pay scale which pays above and beyond the published salary guide.  This has been in effect for over a decade over multiple (and current) contracts.  Off guide salaries are not published and this situation is being used to conceal the true compensation picture.

·        Note: This salary guide does not include longevity payment, benefit waiver payments, or extra curricular stipends. 

·        The data shown is for the 2006-2007 school year. 

         “OG” indicates “off guide” salary steps. 

         “BA” indicates bachelor’s degree       “BA+15” indicates bachelor’s degree plus 15 credit hours

         “MA” indicates master’s degree      “MA+15” indicates master’s degree plus 15 credit hours

         “MA+30” indicates master’s degree plus 30 credit hours

• Teacher Salary Breakdown 

• Individual teachers’ salaries are a matter of public record.  Here is a website that can be used to substantiate salaries:

Http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/datauniverse/teachers.htm

§         2006-2007 Salaries

There were 63 teachers in 06-07.  The table below shows how many teachers are paid at or above the listed thresholds.  For example, 14 of 63 (22%) of our teachers earn over $65,000 per year

Source: BTBOE Payroll

• Work Day Statistics
  • Days worked: Statewide avg. – 185 days,  Bethlehem Township 184 days
  • School day:    State avg. – 6 hours, 29 minutes

  Conley  -  6 hours 30 minutes

            Hoppock  - 6 hours 41 minutes

                                                                                                Source: NJ Dept of Education

• This is the comparative data for salaries of similar sized schools in Hunterdon County.  This table includes our off guide salaries.  In 2006-2007, 28% of our teachers were “off guide.”

Our district is one of only two districts in Hunterdon County that has an “off guide” pay scale which pays above and beyond the published salary guide. Off guide salaries are not published and this situation is being used to conceal the true compensation picture.  Additionally, schools are categorized into “Enrollment Groups” which is the measure of the size of a district by student population.  The data below compares similar sized districts.

Green indicates maximum                    Red indicates minimum                      Yellow indicates BT

        28% of teachers are “Off Guide”

Source: NJ School Board Association

·        District Budgetary Data –This shows our spending on teachers’ salaries comparative to other districts. 

                                                                                                Source: NJ Dept of Education                    

• Health Benefits Comparison

Here are the results of a healthcare benefits comparison survey of 24 school districts in Hunterdon County conducted by New Jersey School Board Association for the 2006-2007 school year:

Note: BT √ = Bethlehem Township

            Healthcare

• 10 require employee contributions towards healthcare
• 14 do not require employee premium contributions;  BT √
• Only 5 districts offer benefit waiver payment to employees; BT √

Dental

• 3 do not offer dental care
• 8  offer employee only with option to purchase family plan ; BT √
• 13 offer a employee/family plan as coverage

Prescription Plan

• 11 do not offer a prescription plan
• 1 offers employee only (hires after July 1992) ; BT √
• 12 offer a family plan with different levels of premium copay

Optical Plan

• 1 district offers a flexible reimbursement plan for optical expenses and all other copays up to $150; BT √
• 18 do not offer an optical/reimbursement plan
• 5 offer a vision reimbursement lower than BT

Source: NJ School Board Association