School Dept. costs continue
Published on May 27th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - This is the third and final part in a three-part series on the rising cost of public education in Stoneham.
Teachers are said to be the driving force in a child's education. Most adults can recall a moment in their young lives when a teacher instilled in them a sense of confidence and independent thinking which remains in them today.
This gift, however, does come at a price.
Teacher and other staff salaries account for approximately 75 percent of the School Department's projected $16.7 million budget for the 1998-99 school year and costs are continuing to rise at a rate of three to four percent annually.
Due to the complicated step and track system under which teachers received incentive payment and the contracts which the School Department enters into with the unions, salaries for instructors can average between about $24,000 for those who enter the profession with no experience and an undergraduate degree to over $54,000 for senior instructors who meet the maximum requirments. In Stoneham, teachers can accumulate up to 12 steps (based on years of service) and three tracks (based on educational degrees).
According to School Committee Chairman Steven Gucciardi, the price tag on quality educators in Stoneham has risen in direct relation to the ones in other towns.
"It's imperative to us to have the most capable and professional staff available," Gucciardi said. "We're pretty fortunate as a community to have a highly competent, highly senior staff. That's a major benefit which shows in the ability of our kids."
He did admit that this highly senior staff causes the price of education in town to inflate, but said that, if the School Department were to hire younger teachers, education may be harmed. In addition, while the costs for staff may decrease initially, there would be large jumps each year in the budget due to step and track increases.
"We don't need to be in the top quatrile (to compete)," Gucciardi said. "We need to be in the park. I don't think we're paying too much nor do I think we're paying too little."
Acting Superintendent Robert Barbarisi agreed, saying, "When one compares teacher salaries against those of other professions, although the maximum (salary) may be the same, it takes almost twice the time to get to that level of pay.
"It takes someone with a 10 step schedule 10 to 11 years to reach the maximum level for teachers."
In the Stoneham school system, well over half of the instructional staff earns over $50,000 with the median pay rate of approximately $46,000.
This average does not include administrative staff whose salaries tend to be substantially higher and which are arrived at through individual contract negotiations. A list of administrative salaries appears above.
"You don't want to underpay your senior, qualified staff," Guciardi said. "Whe you compare (the salaries) to other towns in the state, they're very reasonable."
He explained that contract negotiations between the teachers' union and the School Department ran smoothly last year and the discussion led to a three year contract, the second of which is in the upcoming school year.
A two percent increase was agreed to for the current school year and for the second and third years of the contract, three and a half percent increases are called for.
"I think that, as a committee, we pride ourselves in the manner that we've been able to come to the table with professional, courteous discussions with the child's best interests as the end goal," Gucciardi said. "Quality education doesn't just happen.
"It's well planned and there's a lot of commitment made."
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