Information about Great Schools, Thriving Communities School Funding Initiative
Dear Educators,
If Colorado voters approve Amendment 73 this fall, DPS has proposed adding $36 million into teacher compensation. This $36 million a year would be on top of the approximately 15% average teacher compensation increase over three years that DPS committed to pay under the five-year contract that DPS and DCTA worked hard to reach just last fall.
Under the DPS Proposal, the $36 million increase would be used to:
- Increase salary building for veteran teachers beyond year 14.
- Increase starting salaries for all teachers to $50,000 and to almost $60,000 for our new teachers in our highest poverty schools.
- Double the current incentive for all teachers in high poverty schools to $5,000 a year.
- Simplify ProComp and put more dollars into salary-building for all teachers.
DPS and DCTA will meet next Monday to further negotiate the proposal as well as what to do should the ballot initiative not pass.
We know that families and community members care deeply about providing high-quality education for kids, but Colorado still ranks 39th in the nation for education funding, spending approximately $2,500 less per pupil than the national average.
A community committee, made up of a diverse group of educators, parents and community leaders, came together over the past several weeks to discuss what DPS' funding priorities should be if Amendment 73 passes. They presented their recommendations to the board last night, focusing on how additional funding could be used to help DPS better serve our students and teachers -- such as increasing teacher pay, supporting higher needs students and expanding Early Childhood Education opportunities.
In the working session last night, board members voiced support for the group's recommendations, including that the largest share of the funds should be committed to teacher and staff compensation. The board will vote on the recommendations on Thursday and teachers are welcome to come to public comment at the board meeting.
As Michelle Garrison, teacher at Farrell B. Howell and one of several DPS teachers on the committee noted, "Schools are a part of our community. They produce great citizens and adults. We need our community to support that. It's a part of democracy."
Warm Regards,
Susana
|
