Monthly Archives: May 2017

Metro Atlanta Teacher Salary Analysis

Teachers

Last August the Metropolitan Regional Educational Service Agency (Metro RESA) conducted a Teacher Salary analysis for the 2016-2017 school year. At the time, DeKalb teachers were the “The Worst Paid Teachers Around
In January 2017, the DeKalb Board of Education approved a 2% raise for school based employees to make the school district more competitive relative to other metro area districts.

In the immortal words of Wayne Grezky, “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” DeKalb Schools seems to be skating to where the puck has been.

School Budgets
This May, Gov Deal signed a budget in which he intends teachers to receive a 2% raise. Jen Talaber Ryan, the governor’s spokeswoman, said “It is the governor’s sincere hope that school boards pass this raise along to classroom teachers as intended by both he and the General Assembly.”
While most school districts haven’t passed budgets yet, it looks like DeKalb will not be passing that along to teacher salaries. DeKalb Schools’ Tentative FY2018 Budget includes increases in retirement premiums, health insurance premiums, textbooks and special ed.
Cobb is batting around a 1% raise for teachers as well as a full step increase which will total about 1.5%. Atlanta Public Schools’ budget includes a 1.5% raise for teachers. Gwinnett County and Fulton county schools have proposed a 2 percent increase.


Metro Atlanta Teacher Salary Analysis
Including the 2% raise DeKalb teachers received this past January and not including anticipated raises in the upcoming school year … here is where teachers stand right now. DeKalb’s average rank in teacher pay is 4th out of 6 metro Atlanta school districts. On average, DeKalb’s teachers are currently at least getting paid better than Gwinnett and Clayton teachers. Note: This scale isn’t adjusted for the differences in school district supplemental retirement plans.

T4 = (Bachelors) Clear Renewable Professional Certificate
T5 = (Masters) Clear Renewable Professional Certificate
T6 = (Specialist) Clear Renewable Professional Certificate
T7 = (Doctorate) Clear Renewable Professional Certificate




Budget and Board Meeting 5/15
May 17, 2017 – The proposed budget has increased over 20% in the last two years to 1.01 billion for the FY2018 General Fund. School board also discusses adding more standardized testing, Lead Higher Initiative and the Five-Year Facilities Plan.

DeKalb Schools Estimated Budget
May 12, 2017 – In April, the DeKalb Schools administration presented a 2-page estimated FY2018 budget for the upcoming 2017 – 2018 school year.
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DeKalb Teachers

DeKalb – The Worst Paid Teachers Around
December 13, 2016 – Metropolitan Regional Educational Service Agency (Metro RESA) has conducted a Teacher Salary analysis for the 2016-2017 school year. DeKalb Schools has the worst paid teachers in the Atlanta Metro area.

New Fundraising Policy

On Monday, the DeKalb Board of Education discussed the administration’s proposal for a Fundraising Policy.
School communities often have fundraising activities to provide extra materials and opportunities for their students. Most schools in DeKalb have parent led organizations like a PTA, PTO, Foundation, or a combination of these organizations that raise funds and supplement their school’s educational programs.
It is a good idea to understand the tax status of the organizations that operate within your school. There are different federal and state rules and regulations for different types of entities. For example, is your PTO and/or Foundation a 501(c)(3) under the tax code? Does your school raise funds without the structure of a separate legal entity?
The Policy that was presented to the Board this past Monday was geared towards those school communities that are fundraising without an organization that has the legal and regulatory structure of a 501(c)(3) or something similar. The administration is concerned about these fundraising activities and associated liability for the district.
Unfortunately, this policy lacked clarity as it appeared to lump all fundraising organizations together. There was a lengthy discussion at the board meeting. I made it perfectly clear that many provisions in this policy are simply not applicable or enforceable for the 501(c)3 organizations that operate at many schools. The Board asked for a rewrite to clearly delineate how this policy is applied to various organization types. I expect the revised policy will be rewritten and will not come to the board before July.


.pdf link icon  Proposed Fundraising Policy – Regulation KEB-R(1)
Proposed Fundraising Policy – Regulation KEB-R(1)