No on RS2006-1679

I think CM Summers resolution to tie the superintendent's salary, and those of the senior administrative staff, to the salary of teachers is a bad idea. It doesn't allow the freedom we ought to have to pay people based on their performance.

"I filed it to draw attention to the fact that the school board is giving the director of schools more than the teachers," he said. Tennessean

No doubt. But the solution isn't to wholesale add a salary increase to all the teachers because the BOE finds that the superintendent is deserving of a pay raise. If you disagree with that pay raise, and I do, hold the BOE accountable. Each employee ought to be given a raise based on their own performance. It's tough enough to manage the MNPS budget with all the automatic expenses we're already committed to--we don't need to add this to the budget problem.

There is some truth in CM Summer comment:

Still, Councilman Summers said he doesn't feel the school board is investing its money in the right places.

"If you got rid of the school board and the director of schools, we'd still have a good school system, and the teachers would still show up to teach," he said.

It sure feels like the whole thing is on auto pilot.

Here's the resolution

RESOLUTION NO. RS2006-1679

A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Board of Public Education to limit salary increases for the Director of Schools and senior staff to the same percentage increase teachers receive.

WHEREAS, unfortunately in our society, teachers are not paid at a level that is consistent with the important role they play in shaping the lives of children; and

WHERAS, education administrators consistently make more money than teachers, even though the teachers make a much greater contribution toward a child's education; and

WHEREAS, on October 18, 2006, the Metropolitan Board of Public Education voted to extend Director of Schools Dr. Pedro Garcia's contract for three years and gave Dr. Garcia a $16,600 raise, which increases the Director's annual salary to $216,000; and

WHEREAS, the 2006-2007 starting salary for a teacher in the Metro Nashville Public Schools with a Bachelors degree is $33,067, and the salary for a teacher with ten years experience is just over $42,000 a year; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Board of Education limit the salary increases for the Director of Schools and upper level administration staff to the same percentage received by the teachers.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Metropolitan Board of Public Education to limit salary increases for the Director of Schools and senior administrative staff to the same percentage increase teachers receive.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the Dr. Pedro Garcia and to each member of the Metropolitan Board of Public Education.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: John Summers

Write your councilman and let him know how you want them to vote.

Please don't overlook the chart provided by the Tennessean that shows the AVERAGE Metro teacher salary is $48,513 dollars. I don't believe this includes their generous health insurance and pension benefits.