NFT Responds to August 5, 2005 District Global E-mail

Novato Public Access Televison (NPAT) (Channel 30) will soon be airing the second in a series of "Speaking Out" programs produced by Rick Tucker for the Novato Federation of Teachers. This program was taped in response to a recent district global e-mail regarding salaries for teachers in Novato. Here is the text of the message from Joe Morgan, NFT President.

Welcome to the new school year. There are some important issues I would like to make you aware of as we begin the 2005/06 school year. First, the August 5, 2005 District e-mail gave the erroneous impression that a teacher's hourly pay rate was more than that of all the administrators in the district with the exception of the superintendent. This calculation was based on a 6 hour workday and the highest teacher salary rate on the NUSD pay scale. However, only seven percent of NUSD teachers make $64,000. 50% of the teachers in this district make less than $50,000, resulting in an average hourly wage of $33.60. This realistic figure is quite a contrast to the $58.39 as stated in the global e-mail.
Teachers get paid for 186 workdays per school year, but you can't put a time value on a professional day. Moreover, the contract states that--"the certificated employee shall spend such additional time as is necessary to carry out professional responsibilities,..." Additional duties for teachers include, but are not limited to, class preparation, student records, evaluation of student achievement, communications with parents, Special Education services, remediation programs, conferences, faculty meetings and continuing education.
NUSD needs to improve salaries in order to maintain experienced and qualified teachers. Novato Unified has lost at least 104 teachers in the last two years, nearly one-fourth of the total staff, including many teachers in the science and math programs. Compared to school districts in Marin and Sonoma counties, Novato teacher's salaries rank third from the bottom, while Novato administrator's salaries rank third from the top.
Novato's teachers need a salary increase and the money IS in the budget. The State of California has allotted 5.23% new money to all school districts for the upcoming school year. The voters of Novato increased the parcel tax for the next six years for an increase of $800,000 per year. The district has increased the reserve from 3% to 6% with no specific goals in mind for the extra $1.4 million set aside.
Currently, the District has allotted only a 1% increase for teacher salaries, yet the latest Parcel Tax language clearly stated the goal to "attract and retain quality teachers." Novato teachers need a 5.2% COLA adjustment PLUS 3% to achieve a competitive salary with Marin and Sonoma schools.
The Board of Trustees needs to develop a long-range plan to attract and retain qualified educators. The District needs to set priorities, make the difficult decisions and follow through with an articulated plan in order to maintain the excellent quality of education that Novato's children already receive.
As NFT President, I urge you to contact the Board of Trustees at nusd.org to let them know that a fair, equitable and competitive salary is necessary to retain quality teachers in this District.