Show Pay For Teachers Takes Limelight TEACHERS SAY SOUTH SANPETE I SCHEDULE LOWEST LOVEST IN STATE SCHOOL BOARD SAYS FIGURES MISLEADING What sh shall be the pay schedule of South Sanpete school teachers This subject is just now causing a al lot lotof lotof t of lively discussion between the South Sanpete school board and the South Sanpete Teachers' Teachers association Meetings of representatives of the teachers with the school board took place Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednes Wednes- day and Thursday nights the teachers teach teach- ers of the district held a meeting at Manti Friday the State V Welfare Commission Commission Commission Com Com- mission County Commissioners Utah Educational Association State Tax Commission Superintendent of Public Instruction Attorney General and members of the State Legislature have been drawn into the discussion arid and the ultimate outcome still remains a n abig abig big question mark It all harks back to the approval by bythe bythe bythe the voters of an amendment to the State Slate Constitution last fall by which the state as a whole became responsible responsible responsible sible for a minimum school program to apply equally in all districts richand rich richand richand and poor small and large alike By passage of the amendment No 3 in last years year's election the cost of educating the children of the state i became largely a matter for or the state stale I as a whole and the individual districts districts districts dis dis- dis- dis were supposed to be relieved of much of the financial responsibility of supporting the schools Here in South Sanpete one of the Ute poorer districts the battle cry cryor for or passage of the amendment was that taxes could be reduced and the district still have much more money for the schools Now however it il appears that such a promise may go gothe gothe gothe the way of so many political promises and the taxpayers of South Sanpete I find themselves with a n decided in increase increase increase in- in crease in taxes The State Legislature in keeping with the mandates of the Ule new amendment amendment amendment amend amend- ment enacted legislation which set up upa a statewide l levy vy of mills mill 5 for Tor n r support of the schools The TIle districts also are to levy up to 14 mills for support of the schools in inthe inthe I the individual districts In South I Sanpete it was felt no part of this levy would be needed and none so far has been authorized From a schedule presented at Wednesday nights night's meeting it appears that South Sanpete is the only district without some levy the average for the state being 52 mills with no figures on Daggett and Wayne districts reported Pay Schedules Approved About a month ago the representatives representatives representatives represent represent- of of the South Sanpete Teachers' Teachers association met with the school board and presented a proposed pay schedule schedule dule dul which had been approved by the Ule teachers and was then approved by bythe bythe the board It provided total increase sc in pay of some for the 73 full full- time teachers and the 15 or so teachers teach- teach ers eis at Snow college who get part of their pay from district funds This schedule approved by both teachers and the board provided for forthe forthe forthe the following salaries Teachers with but one year of col college college college col- col lege training a beginning salary of 1250 to be increased 50 per jar year until a maximum of 1450 is reached I at al the fifth year n after ter which it will remain stationary Teachers with 2 years of college training beginning salary of and increasing 50 per year to reach rench a maximum of 2000 in 11 years and then remain stationary Teachers with 3 years of college training beginning salary of 1700 and increasing 50 per year for 14 years to a stationary maximum of 2400 Teachers with a bachelor degree beginning salary of 2250 and in increasing increasing increasing in- in creasing at a rate of 50 a year for four years and then 75 15 a year for five years until a maximum of 2825 is reached the Ule salary then to remain constant Teachers with a master degree be beginning beginning beginning be- be ginning with a salary of 2400 in increasing increasing increasing in- in creasing at 50 per year for 4 years then at 75 a year for five years until untila a maximum of 2975 2915 is reached the pay schedule then to remain station- station ary In addition to the Ule above salaries homemaking teachers would receive first class principals Ephraim Manti ManU High Manti Elementary and Gunnison High second class principals Mayfield Gunnison elementary elementary elementary ele ele- elementary Sterling principal and the district district dis- dis elemental elementary y supervisor The Bone of Contention At a meeting of school superintend superintend- superintendents ants held in Salt Lake recently comparisons comparisons comparisons com com- of salary schedules were made and it was found that the beginning be beginning beginning be- be ginning salaries for teachers with a bachelor degree range from 2100 in Garfield and Sevier to 2376 in Mil- Mil lard The average for the state to o Is while in South Sanpete it itis itis itis is 2250 and in North Sanpete 2300 In Salt Lake City and Ogden it is 2220 and in Provo it is 2280 The average maximum salary for teachers of all grades ranges from 2835 in South Sanpete to in Alpine The average for the state as asa asa asa a a whole is It is from this maximum average salary schedule that the teachers have drawn conclusion and are passing out the information that South Sanpete teachers are the lowest paid in the state Board members members members mem mem- bers however say this is misleading and that in actual pay South Sanpete teachers are far from the lowest paid but admit that they do have the lowest lowest lowest low low- est ultimate maximum average for teachers of all grades It is the contention of the teachers and concurred in by some members of the board that this maximum pay position will tend to drive or keep better teachers out of South Sanpete and ond will work adversely to the at attainment attainment attainment at- at of higher professional stand standards stan stan- d dards by the teachers of the district Propose Increase At the meeting Ved Wednesday night the Teachers association representatives tives proposed that salaries for teachers teach teach- ers with bachelor and master degrees continue to increase at a rate of 75 15 per year for an additional six years until the maximum of for a bachelor degree and of for a master degree is reached This would bring the maximum average of the district to which the te teachers said would still be fifth lowest Inthe in inthe I Ithe the state Present at the meeting were the five ye members rs of the school board boar r rV Lee W. W Hall HaIl president of Manti Dr Stanford Rees Gunnison Marial HanI Hansen Hansen Han- Han I sen Centerfield Udell Mayfield and W. W E E. Thorpe Ephraim Superintendent Leland E. E Anderson Margaret Anderson clerk seven members members members mem mem- bers of the Teachers' Teachers association headed headed headed head head- ed by Joe Young of Manti president also a representative of the press Pres Pies Hall immediately turned the time over to the teachers and Supt Anderson made a report of the su superintendents superintendents' superintendents superintendents' superintendents superintendents' su- su meeting in Salt SaIt Lake and then passed out the salary schedule schedule schedule dule partly adopted in the district explained the tax situation budget etc He had a bulletin prepared by the Utah Educational Association which showed snowed that tax levies in Sanpete county can be reduced 89 mills by bythe bythe bythe the county commissioners because of extra welfare state road etc money which will come directly from the state It is mandatory he said that the county take off its 5 mill mm levy for or public welfare and mentioned d other items which can be reduced or eliminated from from rom the county levy He urged adoption of the complete salary schedule pertaining to teachers teach teach- ers with bachelor and master degrees that these go on increasing for six more years instead of cutting them off at the present year 10 level of 2825 anc and 2975 2915 respectively To do this he lie said would necessitate an increase in the levy in the district of only 11 mills provided the county keeps faith with the state legislature and reduces the county Ie levy by at least 7 of the possible 89 mills Mr Young then stated that if the county makes the full reduction of 89 mills made possible by acts of the state legislature the full teacher pay schedule can be adopted and still have tax rates in the district lowered by 8 8 of a mill He said that while not many will benefit from the Ule schedule schedule schedule dule at present it will give the Ule teachers teach teach- ers something to look forward to and will encourage the better teachers teacher with degrees to remain in the district It was brought out that the complete complete complete com com- salary schedule will increase teacher pay in the district by about yearly at present and will bring the total increase to around granted the teachers this year Pres Hall stated that the present pay schedule already adopted was presented presented presented pre pre- by the teachers and accepted in good faith and that no comparative figures were available from other districts dis dis- dis- dis at that time Now that such figures are available it shows South Sanpete to be at the bottom of the Continued on page 4 Pa Pay For Teachers Takes Limelight Continued from page 1 list It was explained that more state money moncy might be obtained for the dis dis- dis- dis if it Mayfield is declared a special school and thus is listed as 4 instead a of A class room units The Thc state pays per class room unit in inthe inthe inthe the district and there are arc now about 75 it was said but this may go up one ene or more thus bringing additional state funds to the district W. W E. E Thorpe said he felt that the increased schedule would d make too much difference between the maximum maximum maximum maxi maxi- mum salaries of the teachers with 3 years of training and those with a bachelor degree Many of these three- three year teachers he said lack only a afi aft fi ft w hours of qualifying for a degree and in the group group are many of the best teachers of the district He felt that this proposed increase would be unfair to these teachers Mr Thorpe also said he thought it was as rather irregular for the teachers to draw up a salary schedule have haveit it approved by the board accepted by bythe bythe bythe the teachers and then come back and ask for more There was talk of the high starting salaries for all classes of teachers and Supt Anderson said this had to be maintained in order to secure teach teach- e ers He cited the 50 a year advanI I tage of the North Sanpete minimum m t I salary ever South Sanpete and tot told d of an in instance where a teacher bein being g sought sough t by both districts decided o on n North Sanpete because of this dif dif- dif dif- ference Merit System Discussed Discus Mr Thorpe brought up the matter matte r ol of a proposed merit system to grad grade e teachers according to their ability an and d class room work instead of of by years year s of college training He also said h he e felt it would be a sort of honor t to o South Sanpete to operate a goo good d school system at a cost below the state average He said he spoke for the taxpayers of the district and feels there will be a decided kick back from them if the increased salary de demands demands demands de- de mands of the teachers result in in- in J 1 TT I t. t cu L mx X levies xie ne L' L L to IJ the promises of no tax increase and even lower taxes made mide by the school people during election time and felt that the teachers are arc now breaking faith with the public Supt Anderson said that the district now I hiS has as 42 more to spend on its s tha nin any other year because because be because be- be cause of the pass passage ge of amendment t 3 and that this should be a real satisfaction sat sat- i n to all people of the district Mr 1 said that some of this has already been allotted tc te increased salaries and now the teachers teach teach- ers are asking for more Dr Rees said it was unfortunate the schedule was adopted at the previous meeting but felt it was no ones one's fault I r J as th there ere wc c no no comparative f. f figures at the time He felt South Sanpete should offer a schedule that pay compares com cone pyres pares favorably with other districts and expressed the belief that the county commissioners will wiH knock off the road fund levy and said if thc they are aie smart they will take off other levies and keep taxes about the same sam as last year If the county commissioners commissioners commissioners commis commis- will keep county levies down taxes can really relly be reduced even though the proposed salary increase is allowed he said He feared the better better better bet bet- ter teachers will leave the district unless unless un- un less the increase in salaries s is approved ed and said he is for the program as presented by the Teachers' Teachers Association representatives t I Dr Thorpe said the teachers seemed perfectly sate satisfied with the salary schedule adopted at the earlier meeting meet meet- ing and felt they are arc unwise in now asking for more There was then a discussion of Ephraim teachers with 1 Mr Ir Thorpe Bruce Jennings and others taking part and the humorous crack was made that to satisfy Mr Thorpe perhaps the schedule could be left as is for Ephraim and raised in other schools Dr Thorpe said he is speaking fo for forthe forthe r the stockmen farmers etc with who whom I he is associated in his business that tha t he feels for them and that many o of E them are in serious straits because o of r the high price e and scarcity of feed sickness among the animals etc These Thes e people he claimed are working much harder and longer hours for their r money than than the teachers The latter he said now receive from 15 t to o 25 25 per day for time spent in th the e classrooms Supt Anderson replied with th the e statement that the old ld salaries pai paid d in 1 the district district were a disgrace and i itis it itis t is about time the teachers receive pay paya a bit commensurate with services ren ren- dered Mr Thorpe said he had been told by at least five state legislators that they felt the teachers' teachers lobby had taken the last legislature for a ride Others I said the legislators seemed to go willingly will will- willingly judged by the majorities they gave the school program bills There was then an argument be between between between be- be tween Supt Anderson and Mr 11 Thorpe concerning taxes Supt Anderson said the proposed levy increase would amount to only a few dollars to even the largest landowners in the county that the mo money ey will come largely from the railroad sugar company etc Mr Thorpe retorted that these corporations must i get all their funds from the people and that like the free gifts fro from Washington the people must always always al always al- al ways pay the bill Again Mr Thorpe claimed the school people have broken faith with the citizens at large in various ways He referred to the great increase in class classroom t room units devised by the districts some five in our own district in order lo to get more money from the state and then t the request that the amount per unit be raised from to He again referred to the v very ry substantial salary increases already made in South Sanpete and the acceptance of these by the teachers as being fairand fairand fair fairand and satisfactory Supt Sup Anderson said he has been trying for years to build up satisfactory satisfactory |