Gov. Rick Scott proposes raises for Florida teachers

[spuwho]

Florida Governor Rick Scott has proposed that all school teachers receive a raise. The cost to the state budget would be about $480 Million.



The Huffington Post says "its a ploy!"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/scott-teacher-raises_n_2543875.html

Florida Time-Union says "it needs more work"

http://members.jacksonville.com/opinion/premium-opinion/2013-01-24/story/rick-scotts-teacher-pay-plan-needs-more-work

Orlando Sentinel quotes Scott as saying ""I'm very confident it's the right thing to do,"

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-01-23/features/os-rick-scott-teacher-pay-raises-20130123_1_judge-teacher-quality-florida-public-school-teachers-average-teacher-salary

I am kind of baffled, the Anti-Scott Defamation League was all over him when the budget was cut, now he wants to reward teachers with some surplus and not a peep from the gallery! What happened?

[Jaxson]

Not a peep from the gallery?!  I think not.  There are quite a few educators who are taking this with a grain of salt as the $2,500 pay raise would end up being a wash for many who are paying more of their wages into their pension.  Why did the 3% cut enter the picture?  To plug a hole in the state's budget.  Many of us are not ready to be outraged because the state's political system is rigged against us from the get go.  The state legislature is entrenched and so is the governor's mansion when it comes to elections.  Yes, we can scream from the highest hill (Florida has no mountains, natch) and we will find ourselves with the same folks who would rather treat public employees with the same disregard or contempt. 

[NotNow]

It would be a wash for educators who are making 80k or more a year.  For most of our teachers, this is good news and a good decision.  Good for the Guv.

[jcjohnpaint]

Notnow you really should educate yourself on this topic.  What teachers do you know that get paid $80,000/ yr?  I work 7 days a week as an educator and don't get paid ANYTHING close to your claim.  All of my friends that are NOT teachers get paid about 1/4 to 1/2 more than I do and work half the time.  I am not complaining about my job (I love my job), but you are completely wrong.  If teachers were actually paid for the hours we worked, then we should get paid $250.00/ yr or more.  All the governor's pathetic gesture will pay me for is the money I used this year to buy supplies for my students that would not be reimbursed because of the governor's cuts!  Scott can kiss my ass.

[spuwho]

Notnow you really should educate yourself on this topic.  What teachers do you know that get paid $80,000/ yr?  I work 7 days a week as an educator and don't get paid ANYTHING close to your claim.  All of my friends that are NOT teachers get paid about 1/4 to 1/2 more than I do and work half the time.  I am not complaining about my job (I love my job), but you are completely wrong.  If teachers were actually paid for the hours we worked, then we should get paid $250.00/ yr or more.  All the governor's pathetic gesture will pay me for is the money I used this year to buy supplies for my students that would not be reimbursed because of the governor's cuts!  Scott can kiss my ass.

Aren't public education salaries posted online?

[NotNow]

JC,

My point was that the vast majority of teachers would benefit from the proposed raise because they don't come near the $80k threshold that would make the increase a wash against the 3% pension payment.  I pointed out that it is a good move by the governor to increase the pay of our underpaid teachers. 

I am assuming that the minority classroom certified administrators who make the higher salaries would also get the raise and it was them that I am "assuming" make in the $80k range.  What does a high school or middle school principle make? 

I am very aware that the vast majority of our educators (although we could argue UNF and FSCJ) are underpaid.

[NotNow]

Also, does the governor set the pay scale for Duval County teachers?  I thought the school board did.  Who should really be kissing your ass?

I have a few questions:

What is the annual budget of the Duval County School District?
How many employees does the district employ?
How many of those employees actually teach in the classroom every day?

I am the first to admit that I am not knowledgable in this area, help me out.

[jcjohnpaint]

Sorry Not Now, but it has been tough times for educators.  Scott has not done much to show his appreciation for us.  I just don't know what this is all about, but I cannot see how he is just changing his opinions about us all of a sudden.  I believe most UNF/ FSCJ professors in the humanities (give or take) probably make about $40,000/yr if that/ without a raise in seven years.  I don't mean to be so sensitive about the topic, but we feel we are being blamed for all the ills of the city/state when we work our butts off. 

[Tacachale]

There are a few things to remember here. Most importantly, any budget or salary increase Scott supports follows equivalent or greater cuts he's made.

In his first year he slashed over $1 billion from the educational budget. He's also consistently cut the state's contribution to the universities and colleges. Last year he demanded a billion to back into education, which is still less than what he cut initially. Higher ed hasn't seen any increase and doesn't appear likely to.

He also cut salaries of various public employees by 3% to pay more into their retirement. This prospective increase for teachers follows that cut, and there's no guarantee it would go to the teachers anyway considering how much else is missing from our local district budgets. And of course, higher ed's still waiting.

I'm not saying all this to knock Scott, but I think the Times-Union has it right in describing his treatment of education as "mercurial". It's no surprise that people are skeptical.

[fsquid]

Notnow you really should educate yourself on this topic.  What teachers do you know that get paid $80,000/ yr?  I work 7 days a week as an educator and don't get paid ANYTHING close to your claim.  All of my friends that are NOT teachers get paid about 1/4 to 1/2 more than I do and work half the time.  I am not complaining about my job (I love my job), but you are completely wrong.  If teachers were actually paid for the hours we worked, then we should get paid $250.00/ yr or more.  All the governor's pathetic gesture will pay me for is the money I used this year to buy supplies for my students that would not be reimbursed because of the governor's cuts!  Scott can kiss my ass.

Aren't public education salaries posted online?

yes

[NotNow]

That's why I questioned UNF and FSCJ salaries.  The salaries I see online look pretty good to me.  The Duval School District administrative salaries look pretty good as well. Can someone answer my questions about the Duval School District?

To be more correct, and fair, the 3% that Scott had state employee's contribute to their pension is not "more".  They did not contribute at all before.  I'm not saying that they should contribute now either, as I have several friends on state retirement who have suffered as a result of this 3%.

Also, I would support the $10,000 degree initiative as put forth in Texas.  I would hope that we could somehow develop an educational path to a bachelor's degree that does not put our young people into a lifetime of debt.  This is one area that I agree with StephenDare! in that online resources could be better used.  But, I am not an educator and I would be interested in hearing from professionals in the field.

[jcjohnpaint]

I do agree that a degree in the humanities should not make a student go broke.  I have had some great success in my field and I went to a state institution (also own much less than my ivy league friends).  I think this is why it is so important that we protect our state institutions (potential greatness), but at the same time be honest to our students about what kind of jobs or opportunities are waiting for them.  Most great researchers and educators would not even consider a state institutions for the kind of crap they would have to deal with with some of these governors.  I have seen numerous excellent professors leave both Florida and Texas for the kind of cuts that have been made.  Such professors felt they could concentrate more on their agenda when they didn't have to fight the state at every moment.  Personally I don't see how this could be beneficial to the infrastructure of our economy.  I am not saying your wrong, but this is just how I see it in my position. 

[NotNow]

Thanks for the informed opinion. 

What do you make of the Duval ISD budget?  The reason I asked the questions above is that it seems that a LOT of the money in the budget does not go to teachers or classroom learning.  What do teachers think of the administrative pay scales?  How many levels of management exist between classroom teacher and the Superintendant?   How about UNF and FSCJ?  Salaries at both schools appear to be commonly six figures according to the Times Union site. 

Are all Duval ISD teachers and administrators on a state retirement?  If so, what are the terms?  Is there a drop?  I know that the colleges are state retirement, as are the Mayor and City Council.  (Those are the ones that want to screw city employees out of their pensions). 

[carpnter]

Notnow you really should educate yourself on this topic.  What teachers do you know that get paid $80,000/ yr?  I work 7 days a week as an educator and don't get paid ANYTHING close to your claim.  All of my friends that are NOT teachers get paid about 1/4 to 1/2 more than I do and work half the time.  I am not complaining about my job (I love my job), but you are completely wrong.  If teachers were actually paid for the hours we worked, then we should get paid $250.00/ yr or more.  All the governor's pathetic gesture will pay me for is the money I used this year to buy supplies for my students that would not be reimbursed because of the governor's cuts!  Scott can kiss my ass.

What do you teach that requires you to work 7 days a week?  I know numerous teachers and they do not work 7 days a week. 

[CharleyNovember]

teachers take their work home with them and are immersed in educating their kids. Hours wise 7 days sounds about right along with Scott kissing my ass!