Date: Fri 09-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-teachers-salaries

Full Text:

School Officials See The Beginnings Of Teacher Flight

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

If you think Newtown schools pay some of the highest salaries in the area,

Superintendent John R. Reed says you may want to think again.

In recent years, Newtown teachers pursuing higher salaries in other towns and

the superintendent is concerned it may develop into a trend.

"It's been happening more and more lately," Dr Reed said.

Schools Business Director John Torok said the problem lies in the lower level

pay scales, where teachers are receiving relatively small incremental raises.

"We really aren't as competitive in the lower half of the scale," he

explained. "It's a shame. These are really good teachers we're losing. The

bottom line is bucks."

Most recently, three standout teachers resigned, citing the fact that they

could make more money elsewhere.

Dr Reed admitted feeling shaken earlier this summer after receiving a letter

of resignation from Tom McMorran, a popular English teacher at Newtown High

School, who accepted a teaching job in Ridgefield because of its higher pay

scale.

"The immediate change in pay will increase my income by 15 percent, and there

is ample opportunity within their compensation schedules for me to earn even

more," he explained in his letter of resignation. "Believe me, if Newtown were

even close to this, I would not be making this move."

Also leaving Newtown for the Ridgefield school system is Newtown Middle School

computer specialist Melinda Violante, who also noted a 15 percent increase in

pay as her reason for leaving.

Dr Reed said Newtown brought Mrs Violante in from the private sector a year

ago, and, with a year of teaching experience under her belt, her stock as a

computer specialist skyrocketed, making it impossible for Newtown to hold on

to her.

Sandy Hook School reading consultant Jan Edwards leaves Newtown for Danbury

where she'll earn an extra $5,000.

Last year, NHS lost Mary Lou Huskings to the Westport school system because

she was offered an additional $14,000 per year. As Mr Torok pointed out, she

was not only a fine teacher but a standout grant writer, as well, pulling in

several hundred thousand dollars in grant money.

In Newtown, a first-year teacher with a master's degree will earn $33,700,

while a teacher with nine years of experience pulls in $41,450.

In Ridgefield, a teacher in his or her first year will make $37,500 and

$46,244 after nine years.

Board of Education Chairman Herb Rosenthal pointed out that it's no

coincidence in the fact that Newtown is ranked 142nd in the state in money

spent per student and also having trouble keeping up with area teaching

salaries.

The superintendent said he no longer sees teachers being attracted to Newtown

due to high salaries because "we don't really beat anyone."

"I want to have the town objectively understand the differences in the (pay)

guides. We looked a couple of years ago and New Milford was paying $3,000 more

than us per step," he said.

Board member Amy Dent noted that several teachers were lost to other towns

last year, as well. She sees Newtown's school district becoming a target for

other towns to recruit quality teachers because of its strong staff training

reputation.

Dr Reed pointed out that it isn't just the Bridgeports that can't compete

educationally. "It's spilling into the suburbs," he noted.

Newtown teaching salaries are fixed for two years, so no adjustments are

expected to be discussed any time soon, according to Dr Reed.