In my district in Washington State, we have finished the budgeting work, and no one will receive a RIF notice. We have saved everyone from any potential cuts, which is deinitely a reason to celebrate.
However, the legislature’s decisions mean that we are essentially losing about 5% of our incomes. 4.2% is gone because the COLA is frozen, .55% is gone because of a work day eliminated (a LID Day), and our medical costs are going up 12% with only a 3% rise in the medical allocation. For a teacher making around $50,000 a year, this is around $2,500 lost during the year or around $200 a month.
It’s tough to complain on the one hand with so many people losing jobs and so many districts eliminating programs (see here and here and here and here and here and there are more). On the other hand, teachers are given the same old promises about making up the losses later without attaching any specific ways to do it.
Lately, I’ve heard people in my community say that times are tough right now, and teachers need to sacrifice like everyone else when times are bad. However, teachers received very little in Washington State during the boom years of the 90s. Too many promises and too little action. It feels fairly hollow to me.
I know: bummer of a post, but it’s been on my mind. I’m thankful for not being laid off, but I don’t appreciate the promises I don’t believe are realistic or genuine.
