Bellevue teachers talk about compensation

[CaptainWalton26]

I think you need to add the cost of living percentage on top of the 4.5...If they do bend , and give you more money, the students electives, and extra-curriculars will be slashed. Who is for the students now?

[huskydawg11]

Well if you actually finished high school you would know how a teacher actually spends their day. I bet you wouldn't last a week.

[huskydawg11]

It isn't all about the money. If it was, the teachers would have settled for the recent 4.5% salary bump on Monday. Don't fall into the media trap. Every district in the state is carefully watching this strike because 50 districts are up for a new contract next year and hope to God that their district doesn't mandate a scripted daily lesson---nobody wants to be a robot.

[BellevueTeacher]

Once again, the district is NOT mandating daily scripted lessons.

[huskydawg11]

They are enforcing that lessons on the curriculum web should be followed, but you can occasionally change a lesson. Since the presidential election is NO WHERE on the curriculum web, how would you occasionally make changes to a lesson that does not even exist? Apparently you have not had any colleagues in your school be put on probation for deviating from the curriculum we--yet.

[BellevueTeacher]

No it says you can occasionally replace a lesson, modifications and adaptations can be performed as deemed necessary using professional judgment. If using the elections helps you teach objects, of course you would use it and would never be repimanded for doing so.

[Ticonderoga76]

to Auroraborealis001 and everyone else that wants the district to give in to the Union demands: Sadly, it IS about facts and the facts are that the funding is just not there. So sit down with your friends and decide which programs you would be willing to do without. Tutorials? Football? Basketball? Student Newspaper? Are your folks willing to give up more of their paycheck for higher taxes (because god knows we're not paying enough now). Should school lunches increase 2x? 3x?

[CaptainWalton26]

Get a summer job, and work the whole year like the rest of us.

[rozinur]

Actually the teachers do work year-round, even if they aren't actually teaching for all of it. There a numerous curriculum meetings they have to attend, and they may also have to take classes to be able to keep their teaching certificate. On top of all that many teachers do take other jobs so that they can maintain an okay standard of living, but this is not okay. The teachers need to be paid more, and need to be paid for the hours they actually keep not what the district claims is their hours.

[headupura]

Hey I am all for ...(anyone) who works in Bellevue should be able to (afford) to live in Bellevue. From the people at McDonalds, to the pizza delivery driver.

[huskydawg11]

MedinaParent. Get your facts straight about teacher's salary under the new contract--It must be that "fuzzy math" again.

[MedinaParent]

My math is correct, nothing fuzzy about it.

[MedinaParent]

Note that I was specific in my numbers, you were just disparaging with no facts to back up your position. Any chance you work for the Bush Administration?

[auroraborealis001]

This isn't just about the FACTS this is about people who do amazing work and who deserve a raise, who deserve the ability to use their professional judgment and they deserve better health care benefits!! If going on strike was the only way they could be heard--which it was; they did not want to get to this state but the district wasn't budging four months ago when the teachers first brought the issue up to them--then by all means I support them 100%

[auroraborealis001]

The fact that the teacher income has so far to go until teachers can finally afford to purchase homes in Bellevue is a terrible terrible thing and the district needs to work immediately on remedying that fact, not excepting it as fact and refusing to grant raises to the teachers. And even renting in within the district is extremely expensive and unaffordable with a teacher's salary. A small house in a decent area can cost upwards of $2500/month. How can a teacher afford that?

[auroraborealis001]

The lessons really do not allow teachers to use their professional judgment and that is an insult to their education and to their experience. And regarding the raise, so just because giving them less than a 50% raise would still mean they can't live in Bellevue, we shouldn't give them a raise at all?

[MedinaParent]

First off, the % of teachers who voted to strike when the curriculum issue was not addressed was 75%. The amount that voted to continue the strike after the curriculum issue was largely resolved was still 75%. So the amount this strike is about anything but money is exactly 0%.

Second, my response was to the teacher's claim that they should be paid well to live where they teach, which clearly won't happen. And they are already getting a significant raise under the current offer.

[BellevueTeacher]

Also, a third of the union was not there because many people were saying we would not be voting. If those 400 other teachers had been there to vote, I am curious what the outcome would have been.

[auroraborealis001]

I'm a high school student who attends school in the Bellevue you school district, and I can absolutely attest to the fact that the teachers are doing this for the students. The curriculum web is atrocious--the district can't truly understand this and neither can the parents necessarily because they have not been forced to teach/be taught from these scripted lessons.

[MedinaParent]

Note that the average teacher would make $64K for 180 days of work, or over $355 per day. That equates to over $92,000 if they worked full time. Meaning teachers with Masters degrees are making the equivalent of over $112,000 Per Year.

[MedinaParent]

As to the claim that they can't live in Bellevue, let me point out that they could easily afford to rent, just not to buy. And even if they were given 50% raises, they STILL COULD NOT AFFORD BELLEVUE.

[MedinaParent]

To claim that they are doing this for the sake of the kids is utter bullshit. They know that the only ways their demands can be met is for the district to increase class size, which all teachers know only serves to diminish the educational goals of students, teachers, and parents.

[TobiasJovi]

Some beginning teachers are truly great and have wonderful enthusiasm. Look for them after several years of teaching and many of them are gone .... they're in a different profession because they couldn't live on a teacher's salary. If people truly want 'great' teachers in every classroom the only way to get them is to offer 'attractive' salaries and benefits. Otherwise, don't complain because your child isn't doing as well as you think he/she should.

[TobiasJovi]

The bottom line, the more money offered, the better qualified the job seekers become. The bloggers are talking merit pay. If salaries were competitive with other professions, there'd be a much larger 'pool' from which to select teachers and you wouldn't have to worry about weeding out 'poor' teachers. As it is now, most SD's hire only beginning teachers to save on money. Some really great, experienced teachers have been passed by ... of that you can be sure.

[youngwboi]

I just don't understand all the negitive comments on here. From one union worker to another, STAY STRONG and KEEP UP the fight. You diserve every cent you are fighting for. Good luck.

[MedinaParent]

Bullshit. If you actually deserved this, the market conditions would make it so. But you won't be responsible for your individual value, and instead collectively hoard together to force the school district in to giving you much more than you could earn on your own. Shame on you all.

[scolen3]

STFU, these teachers make over $250k a year, they can afford to live in Bellevue, cheap bastards!

[roflwaffle10]

The School District can't just pull money out of their ass. They've already told teachers that if they want more pay, they'll have to cut other activities, and the teachers aren't willing to compromise.

[BeachRooster]

The woman that was talking about the $429,000 townhouse can kiss my ass. I have a college degree and work all year plus overtime and I can not afford a home in Tacoma never mind Bellevue!

[ingridelee]

that lady was my culinary teacher.

[BeachRooster]

Fine. If she wants a house she may need to work a second job and save up for 5-10 years. She is not entitled to a house.

[EMT33B]

$58,000??? Are you kidding me??? You wanna talk about under-paid and over-worked try being an EMT. Hopefully they will get a court order to end this nonsense. Do your job or find a new one.

[headupura]

Now you are someone to admire, you put your health and your life on the line everyday for so little. And you have to keep up your certificates also. And they are working on that order right now. Thank you for your service.

[headupura]

KOMO 4 NEWS just gave the average BSD pay as over $58,000 and more, this is before the strike.

[extramile1]

At first, I was in support of the teachers. I was told it was primarily about the curriculum issue. I was in support giving teachers the freedom to use their knowledge to do the best job for our kids. But now that that issue has been resolved, and the teachers have been offered an adequate raise, I feel like I was duped. Turning down the new offer shows that this really was about the money all along. Those complaining about starting teacher's salaries should try starting in any other field.

[headupura]

I noticed you left out the nurses, who do have to continue their educations...As for the postal workers and garbage haulers they work very long hours and heavy work, and make LESS than teachers do, was my point !!!!

[headupura]

OMGosh Look at that spelling below....from a student in the BSD. Oh yeah the teachers deserve more pay. And as with any profession, we all have had to pay our way, and climb the ladder. There is NO shortage of teachers, we have 2 in my family alone. There is however a shortage of nurses(who btw, have to continue their educations also)and make a lower wage.

[enigmaX8000]

teaching is one of the most unappreciated proffesions ever. First they have to pay for a college eduaction, spend years earning their degrees. Then they are not appreciated by their students.

Furthermore, teachers work more than 180 days a year. they use their weekends to grade papers and make lesson plans (not to mention any holidays and summer.

Also, stop complaining about losing vacation. I too am a student in the BSD. It is just a weekor two of vaction. It is not that big of a deal.

[lahayne]

In general, we underpay teachers, but there are very few in Seattle-Bellevue that have the luxury to live where they work. Rush hour drives home the fact that most people have to commute to their jobs. The District's offer is fair and tenders a better compensation package than most other school districts in the NW and the rest of the country. It is unconscionable to hold our kid's education hostage at the 12th hour, demanding subsidization in order to have the option to walk to work.

[chefrob]

By June 7th of last year the Bellevue School District went SEVEN bargaining sessions without offering a single proposal about pay or the curriculum issue.

The teachers union tried their best to avoid this strike and avoid interrupting students' school year. The BSD are the ones holding the students' education hostage. Being angry is fine, but please direct your anger in the right direction.

[xuebiii]

Bellevue is a very expensive place to live and teachers are right in asking for better pay. But the Bellevue School District DOES NOT have more money to give. There is NO hidden deposit of money within the district (and personally, if there was, the money is probably for other stuff and shouldn't be blindly given to teachers). Also, there is a Cost of Living adjustment for the teachers of 5.1% this year and possibly more in later years. Other professions would be so happy for just that 5.1%.

[magnottis]

After receiving a Bachelor's Degree, a new teacher (under the new state certification requirements) must continue their education with graduate courses within the first five years of receiving a contract. New teachers make less that 40K a year, pay for grad school courses out of their own pockets, and still have to make a living. I think Bellevue teachers are doing a great job of demanding equal pay for equal education!

[Ticonderoga76]

It's long overdue for merit pay! There are many teachers that deserve good pay but until they clean house of all those incompetent teachers,they will never have the full support of the community. TEACHER PAY SHOULD BE BASED ON INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE. IF YOUR STUDENTS EXCEL THENYOU SHOULD BE JUSTLY COMPENSATED.IF YOUR STUDENTS ARE FAILING THEN YOU SHOULDN'T BE REWARDED. You good teachers need to wake up and realize that your union is hurting you by protecting your incompetent colleagues.

[dpnmcarrell]

Ever consider that if schools paid more, more competent teachers would be willing to continue teaching vs. taking another type of job where they can make a decent living. I agree that there may not be enough $ to spread around to teachers. I feel this issue falls into the laps of our state legislators who pass refuse to fund mandates (like class size) that are passed.

[MedinaParent]

Are you even paying attention?  The average pay is $64K per year under the latest proposal. That's not a decent living? What's more, they only have to work 180 days per year. Sounds pretty sweet to me.

[headupura]

Hold out district !!! Remember Marysville, give them what they got which amounted to nothing. They now make about 10G's more a year than the postal workers, and garbage haulers, who do real work for a living. They make almost the same and in some instances more than nurses. These are facts !!

[dpnmcarrell]

How sad to compare individuals who shape the minds of our children to postal workers and garbage haulers. Jobs which, by the way, don't require a degree and continued education (out of their own pockets) for them to continue in their jobs.

[Cougsfan34]

I think the teachers should get back to teaching the little amount they actually do. If they can't afford to live in Bellevue which has one of the highest price for housing markets in washington I suggest they look somewhere else or try a different job. I drive 30 miles for my job a day. I make plenty of money to afford a home with land and I am diesel mechanic. To bad the teachers don't teach common sense. I dont live in Bellevue because of the high price.

[Cougsfan34]

Man the teachers are greed. I am a grad of Newport High School class of 2003. The teachers and the education at Newport and generally in the Bellevue School District is sub standard. They only care about you if your taking Advanced Placement. The teachers continue to vote down performance based pay because 85% of their teachers would make no money. I had a teacher beat a student in class one time and was fired the next day. Thats who they attract. Sub Standard teachers.

[headupura]

First off Qber4life my question to you is, is the bad language what you learn from them, or teach to students ? As a matter of fact I DO know how hard (ha ha) they work 180 days a year, as I have a daughter that is one...and she has been lazy all her life...(love you dear but you know it's true) Her dad who works ALL year makes less and actually works !!! So do not ASSUME I do not know what I am talking about. Did you send Emails with your nasty language to all the mad TAX payers, or just me?

[raspberrygrace41]

and teachers in arizona make half what these bsd teachers make.

[enigmaX8000]

Teachers are one of the least appreciated proffesionals in the world. They receive little respect from others, let alone the students they teach. They deserve more respect and higher pay. I'm not just talking about the Bellevue teachers, but all teachers. Furthermore, as a student of the BSD, I know that the required cirriculum is terrible. It needs to change. The best teacher is allowed to teach without such limitations. I support the teachers 100%.

[burgandypug]

I make 1/2 what the least paid teacher in the district makes. I was laid off for 3 weeks this summer and barely managed to pay my rent (thats right, rent not mortgage).

I am sick of hearing how teachers cant afford to buy in Bellevue. Either can I.

Thank God you have a job (because that is better than some) and get your ass back to work NOW!!

I have $2 to my name & school supplies sitting in the middle of my living room floor gathering dust. You people make me sick!

[TobiasJovi]

burgandypug, maybe if you would get a college degree you could negotiate for better pay. Teachers are not babysitters. Until school begins, maybe you could spend time homeschooling with the school supplies sitting in the middle of your floor ... or you could vacuum.

[jeepnjavagirl]

Teachers are public servants, and you have no business keeping kids out of school. Our state dropout rate runs between 35 and 50%, depending on ethnicity and district. What makes you think you deserve more money? When you take a job as a teacher, you're fully aware that teachers don't make alot of money. Shame on you all. You think you're the only people in this world who have to commute to work? Get back to work, and get those kids back in school!

[headupura]

Those people that are honking at you on your picket line are NOT SUPPORTING YOU... we are waving our middle finger at you...I have to laugh because you keep smiling and waving ...I have talked to a bunch of us doing this. HONK HONK

[Qber4life]

Why would you be so disrespectful to the teachers that are working their asses off? You should be fucking ashamed of yourself for being so rude to them you dipshit! Plus, you have no idea what school life is like for them...

[tehsheep517]

i agree 100 percent.

[arkfisher]

Being that we are a financially struggling Bellevue family we still had to pay over $60 for school supplies that were on your required supply list and as parents we give and give at every walk-a-thon and other fundraiser so you can have the tools and programs needed to teach and we can hardly afford that. I would love to own a home in Bellevue, but i have to keep renting and it isn't the nicest apartment in Bellevue. Nobody is getting paid enough for cost of living these days. Get over it!

[arkfisher]

Ask most of the parents whose children you teach if they can afford to live in Bellevue. Most of us are struggling just as bad. We rent we can't even afford to buy here either.

[arkfisher]

We are a family struggling to make ends meet while living in Bellevue. We also live paycheck to paycheck and we rent. The economy really sucks for all of us. My husband recently asked for a raise and got laugh at. I don't think is so much a matter of under appreciating our teachers as much as it is a really bad economic situation all across the country right now. In all fairness I believe the district is doing the best they can and the teachers really need to look at the bigger picture.

[calvojmonte47]

If you are for our chidren, you would think about the fact that you guys aren't willing to give up your winter and spring break to make up the days missed. The kids will be in school all summer. Your hurting them, because they need to be in school Now. remember what happened in marysville they were forced to go back, and they lost.

[saxmaster37]

lol the woman in the beginning was my math teacher liz jones and the guy in the end is mr. brown

[pbnj1275]

By the way, I'm not a teacher and I'm not part of this strike...I'm just out of a job right now because of it. I definitely want to go back to work!

[oddballcvi11]

Under paid, hardley, there are more people out there working harder for far less. And thanks for teaching our kids to be greedy little yuppies

[pbnj1275]

I believe that teachers are underpaid for the hard work they do. But I have been out of a job for a week now because of this strike. Will I be able to pay the rent next week? My bills? Will I be able to eat? Our economy is bad right now. Everyone is struggling! If the teachers get their way, great. But I'm still out a week's pay. Have the Bellevue teachers thought about the LIVES they are hurting by this strike?

[headupura]

They are complaining about not being able to live where they teach.....then gee get a job where you live !!! I and most of the people I know can't afford to live in Bellevue, My husband works there too. Think about the kids, get your butts back to work , and thank the lord you even have a job...AND ONE THAT YOU ONLY WORK 180 DAYS A YEAR AT TO BOOT !!!

[MadBSDParent]

Please go back to work! I think you have a better deal than you realize. The longer this goes on, the more difficult it will be for the teachers to regain respect in the community.

[yongyuwang]

I don't think you know what is going on. My teachers have been complaining about the curriculum for years. It is garbage and most of my peers agree. That plus the sharp rise in the cost of living in Bellevue has created a compelling reason to hold a strike. They may have lost respect from naive community members, but their message is right.

[futbolisatpick]

hey madBSDparent. u need to get your head up. the teachers are fighting for a good cause and as a x student of sammamish i think that this is a goood thing...

[cbreedon]

Is the last teacher actually advocating that a first year teacher should be paid $160k a year!?!?! She is saying that they can't afford a $439000 house at their $39000 salary because a bank will only loan them 2 1/2 times their salary. Yes that is sensible. $39000 for a 22 year old grad who works 8-9 months a year is very generous.

[smoore69]

You're assuming that a first year teacher is 22 years old. I think we could attract a lot more mid-career teachers or people seeking to switch professions if the starting pay were better. I'm not advocating $160K a year, but we need to do better.

[ESei173]

i still support and appriciate my teachers!

[ESei173]

STOP THIS BULLONY STRIKE! GOD DAMNN IT!

THE STUDENTS ENJOYED IT FOR THE FIRST WEEK....NOW ITS CUTTING INTO OUR TIME, AND WE EXSPECT TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL AND INTO SUMMER WITHIN A WEEK OF OTHER STUDENTS, AT TOLERANT SCHOOL. SO IF YOU DONT WANT UPSET, MOODY, DISAPPOINTED STUDENTS NOT TO MENTION SENIORS WHO WILL HAVE TO BE CUTTING THERE SUMMERS SHORT IF NEED TO FIND AND REGISTER AND ENTER COLLEGE THIS SUMMER. SO ENOUGH, AND ITS ABOUT TIME TO START SCHOOL! (i NEVER thought it would say that!)

[auroraborealis001]

Bellevue is one of the most--if not the most--expensive communities to live in, in Washington state. It's absolutely atrocious that teachers have to make such long commutes to the schools they teach in because they cannot afford a house in Bellevue. The district really needs to offer the teachers a fair deal; their bargaining offers thus far, especially where compensation is concerned, have been doing teachers a complete injustice.

[MedinaParent]

They can afford to rent, just not to buy. But even if they were given 50% raises, they still could not afford to live here. But they can easily afford to purchase homes in outlying communities with reasonable commutes.