AlexanderHamiltonJC OP t1_its807x wrote
from u/glasssa251 What do you think needs to be done in order to retain and hire quality teachers?
The teacher shortage is a huge nationwide problem and Jersey City is certainly experiencing this issue as well. There are a couple of things we can do as a district to help alleviate this problem:
1) Teachers need to know that they will be valued by our district. Our entry level salary of $61,000 is far less than other competing districts (other districts are also providing signing bonuses) and probably the biggest reason that we lose out on new teacher talent to other districts.
2) The current step system (when teachers get raises) takes far too long for a teachers salary to actually increase to a meaningful amount. This is another reason why teachers leave our district early. It also accounts for a big reason why the union contract with our teachers is very top heavy as far as salaries go.
3) When we renegotiate the teachers contract next year we must even out the pay scale so that teachers can start with a higher salary and receive better raises as they remain in the district. Then we will be able to hire new teachers and retain their talent within our district and there is nothing more important than our teachers.
mrcrazy2u t1_itz6lta wrote
Hi Alex, I'm a former JCPS teacher. I left this year after 15 years in JC. Another district offered me a raise and JC didnt want to negotiate or try to retain me.
I personally know 2 other teachers that the same happened.
As long as JCPS continues to allow this to happen the better paying districts will continue to use JCPS as a "minor league" to poach its trained employees.
keepseeing444 t1_iu35tbl wrote
not Alex but based on his other answers it sounds like he values and respects teachers. The budget is near a billion dollars and your administration has decided they rather waste it on deadweights, nepotism hires and unscrupulous vendor contracts instead of improving the pay scale of all teachers that actually do the real and tough job of teaching urban kids. As a taxpayer I wish teachers call out their union for this gross mismanagement.
mrcrazy2u t1_iu3oyeo wrote
The teachers union has nothing to do with who administration hires.
But for the record you are right about administration with nepotism hires and promotions. However, they're not our union.
glasssa251 t1_itsc0f6 wrote
What about the current setup with health benefits? Healthcare is free in so many industries, why are jersey city teachers paying so much, especially when they cannot opt out of the Healthcare plan?
AlexanderHamiltonJC OP t1_itsfxbf wrote
The healthcare plan that the teachers receive is negotiated by and agreed upon by the Union. While the administration may be in charge of shopping for insurance plans, it is the union that has the final say regarding the health plan selected for their members. When the teacher contract is negotiated in 2023 this issue can be looked at more closely to try and save more money for teachers and the district.
glasssa251 t1_itsh44z wrote
That's not what I'm asking. The current pay plan for benefits was negotiated so we could get a cap on payout. My question is do you think it's fair that teachers are paying for Healthcare to begin with since we can't opt out?
keepseeing444 t1_itsnk7s wrote
You’re asking a different question. How much do you pay for monthly health insurance premium exactly? Do you think it’s fair employees in private companies pay in some cases $2000 per month for family health plan? Many employees in public sector also do not have free health insurance. They also do not have summers off. You sound awfully entitled.
glasssa251 t1_itsotr9 wrote
Do said private companies offer employees the ability to opt out of their insurance plan? Because jersey city does not. I only pay for myself because my husband (who works for a private company) gets free Healthcare and I cannot opt out of mine to go on his. If I had a family of four on my plan, it would cost me $800 a month.
Also, while I have summers off, I don't get vacation days, which I'm sure many private sector employees have. I also don't get a paid maternity leave unless I pay for short term disability insurance.
If I come off as entitled, it's because I've been teaching for too long to put up with not being treated like a human being by the people I have to answer to.
keepseeing444 t1_itsv7r4 wrote
That sounds like a question only your union benefit planners or reps can answer. I dont think the board has any control over that.
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