Date: Fri 18-Aug-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Reed-school-salaries-teachers

Full Text:

Reed Notes Pressure To Raise School Salaries

B Y A MY D'O RIO

The loss of a highly-regarded high school employee to well-paying Westport has

prompted the superintendent to announce that Newtown's salaries may need

bolstering in the future.

School Superintendent John Reed said he has not yet lost people to other towns

because of money, but has noticed Newtown salaries are lower than other

districts.

If the difference widens, the salary discrepancy could become a problem, and

Newtown might lose talented staff.

A teacher recently left Newtown to go to a Wallingford school system and

received $3,800 more, he said. The teacher did not leave for money, yet the

salary was higher, he said.

Another teacher took a job in Berlin, not due to salary issues, but the

teacher did receive $2,950 more in pay.

Lastly, Dr Reed said recently Mary Lou Huisking, Newtown High School's

cooperative work experience coordinator, is leaving for a position in

Westport's Staples High School. She said she is leaving because of

professional opportunity, not money.

She will be receiving $53,000, almost $14,000 more than her salary here.

Dr Reed said Westport put Mrs Huisking on a higher salary step. He said she

was lower than she should have been due to a salary step freeze that lasted

four years in the late 1980s.

Salary steps are increases in pay based on educational degrees and experience.

Dr Reed said he does not ever expect to compete with Westport, but mentioned

the salary differences to build public awareness.

Dr Reed stressed that it is important to stay competitive with area towns, and

he noted that New Milford is offering $3,000 to $4,000 more on many of its

salary steps.

When compared to four area towns - Bethel, Monroe, Region 15 and New Milford -

Newtown offered the second lowest starting salary, $28,150, in 1994-95. It was

$5,268 lower than highest starting salary belonging to New Milford.

New Milford's starting salary is $33,418, but teachers with no experience

start at $28,000. After one year, the salary increases to $33,418.

This upcoming year, Newtown's starting salary increases to $28,400, and it is

the third highest of the five towns, with New Milford still offering $33,418.

As for maximum salaries, the story is similar. In 1994-95, Newtown's top

salary was $57,877, the second-lowest of the five towns, with $1,206

difference between Newtown and the highest maximum salary of $59,027,

belonging to Monroe.

This upcoming school year, Newtown's top salary increases to $59,027 and is

the third highest, but there is a $4,191 difference between Newtown and

Monroe, which still offers the highest.

The state's school district profiles dating from 1991-92 to 1993-94 show

Newtown's minimum salary in 1991 was above the state average, but by 1993-94,

dropped behind it.

In 1993-94, Newtown's minimum salary was $27,790, the average salary in

similar districts was $28,852, and the state average was $28,052.

From 1991 to 1994, the minimum salary grew by $1,000 or 3.6 percent, while the

maximum salary grew by $6,377 or 12 percent.

During those years, the maximum salary was always a few thousand above the

state average and the average from similar districts.

Dr Reed said the maximum salary has been restricted to growth in recent years,

increasing by around two per cent a year. He noted that there is always

pressure to increase the maximum salary because the majority of the teachers

in the union are near or at the top of the step guide.

He said leftover funds are used to increase the middle salaries, which is why

the base salary has not grown by much. He said the middle salaries are an

important area because districts value teachers with two and three years

experience.

The Board of Education is currently negotiating with the teachers' union on

how to distribute the money on the salary step schedule for the upcoming

school year, said Dr Reed said.