The new contract proposal encourages veteran teachers to be average.

First let me say I recognize the hard work of both the union and the district in negotiating the new teacher contract but I believe they should go back to the drawing board and come up with something that is fairer to our veteran teachers, those that have made education a career and proven they can do the job. If not I will be voting against it.

Now they both might say their hands were tied by the teaching profession kneecapping Senate Bill 736, The Student Success act but regardless the contract among other things encourages our best and most experienced teachers to be average.

A first year teacher who is effective can make a thousand dollar raise while at the same time a veteran tenth year teacher who gets a highly effective evaluation can only get a five hundred dollar raise. Where is the motivation for veteran teachers to go above and beyond because until year fifteen their raises will be less than what rookie teachers can earn for being effective? To give you some scale last year about five percent of teachers were highly effective, three percent developing/needs improvement and the vast majority effective. Which means most new teachers will be getting a thousand dollar raise while most veterans will be getting less. The district with its reliance on Teach for America is already disrespectful and disdainful of veteran teachers and the union with this contract seems to go along with them.

Furthermore a rookie teacher today can expect to earn more than a current veteran teacher on a professional service contract over the next fifteen years and earn potentially hundreds of thousands more over the course of their career.

This is all very ironic as the school board is seeking to extend the contract of Superintendent Vitti for three more years while at the same time telling teachers to choose money or security.  Teachers are professionals too and should be treated like it, this contract however does not.