Missoula teachers get 3 percent raise in tentative contract - Missoulian article from May 29th, 2013 edition

This Missoulian article was written for the May 29th, 2013 edition by Betsy Cohen.  I'm not sure if I posted it so I'm including it today.

Click on the link below to read the article -



Missoula teachers get 3 percent raise in tentative contract

Quotes from the article are -

"Missoula's public school teachers will receive a 3 percent increase in their base salaries for the 2013-14 academic year, which starts July 1, under a tentative bargaining agreement reached Tuesday.
The increase is significant and the highest bump teachers have received in recent years."

and -

"In 2009-10, Missoula teachers received no raise, in 2010-11 they got a 0.5 percent raise, and then a 2 percent raise in 2011-12, said Steve McHugh, Missoula County Public Schools director of human resources and labor relations."

A comment from one of the 10 comments after the article is from walter12 and follows:

 

 

   walter12 - May 29, 2013 7:08 am

You people need to know the truth about the MCPS. First thing, no certified teacher with any kind of position in the MCPS ever quits. They retire at 65 or later or die at their desks. Secondly, by Missoula and Montana standards, this is one of the best jobs in the state, by far.
Everyone knows that the best jobs in this state are: 1. Working for the Forest Service, 2. working for the State, 3. Teacher in the four big cities, 4, working for the county or city. These jobs are protected, they have great benefits, the pay is good, and there is no pressure.

 

Another interesting comment from Leadfoot follows -

Leadfoot - May 29, 2013 10:57 am

THIS IS, AS USUAL FOR THE MISSOULIAN, ONLY A PARTIALLY CORRECT ARTICLE. WHAT WAS LEFT OUT WAS THE FACT THAT THIS 3% APPLIES ONLY TO THE BASE SALARY. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASES FOR SEVERAL OTHER CATAGORIES NOT YET DISCLOSED THAT APPLIES TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED MAJORITY OF TEACHERS WITH MANY YEARS OF SENIORITY. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE TOTAL PATENCY IN ITS PAY INCREASES....AND THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT A RAISE TO APOSTLE THAT WAS BUILT INTO HIS CONTRACT, BASED UPON INCENTIVES, THAT WERE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE GIVEN TO HIM?!!!!

 missoula schools watchdog would have preferred a lower percentage wage due to MCPS salary and benefits part of the budget is now 90% of the budget when it needs to be in the 80% range.

Additionally, the most sensible thing to do is NOT give administrators such a large salary and to decrease the number of administrators.