Munster High School | 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321
Crier
Issue 4 volume 52 | Oct. 25, 2017
INSIDE LOOK Crier staffers recommend things to do over fall break | page 5 Fall sports season recaps | page 7
UPCOMING Tech Club Console LAN party | Near door J, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. Fall break | Oct. 26th-27th
Figuring their fate STM undergoes teacher negotiations photo by Easan Venkat
Story by Mimi Brody Managing Editor On Sept. 15, negotiations regarding teachers’ contracts opened as administration and teachers try to finalize a deal. The negotiations focus on fixing language and deciding teacher pay. The Munster Teachers Association negotiates on behalf of MHS teachers, but due to state laws, the material that they are permitted to argue has been reduced. “Teachers are getting used to the fact there is less that we can negotiate, but there is still a concern about what the future holds with pay increases, and we want to know we can earn a raise from year to year,” said Mr. Thomas Barnes, English teacher and Vice President of the Munster teacher’s association. Along with regular raises, teachers hope for less expensive benefits.
Mr. Barnes remains hopeful that teacher compensation will improve, despite setbacks the last few years. Teachers completed an anonymous survey; changes “I know what the administration teachers want to see to their contracts, school climate is doing now is tough, they are having to make some hard decisions to right the ship financially,” Mr. Barnes said. “At some “At minimum, a cost of living increase that isn’t a ‘charity point it has to turn around for stipend’ is only fair.” the teachers since we repre“Contracts need to record years teaching and also sent such a large part of the reward teachers getting advanced degrees such as a school budget. I would hope that with the debt being paid masters degree.” off and so forth, in the next year, things would be improv- “A salary increase and either a monetary-based accounting ing and there would be more for time spent working beyond contracted days, or a reducreal money for teachers, not tion in expectations to fit only time we are contracted for.” something on the small side, but something that can help “Greater input in school policy decisions.” make up for all the years that “Teachers jump through too many unnecessary hoops we haven’t been getting raises or have made sacrifices for when we should be focusing on teaching and doing the school district.” what is best for the students.”
Problems Munster teachers are experiencing are not unique. Teachers all over The district’s ability The mantra in business Indiana are experito meet these conencing similar probcerns with a real mon- is that you get what lems. According to etary solution has you pay for. Devalue Mrs. Brenda L. Yodbeen hampered by teachers by devaluing er, Licensed Indiana its’ negative balance. what they do, then School Counselor, In order to solve the whose Facebook post expect them to accept problem, the district about the subject was passed a referendum, it and do more work to featured in the Washfrom which they will prove they’re “highly ington Post, this legstart to see money in effective.” It’s a slap in islation is leading to a June of 2018. teacher shortage. the face to educators. “That (the referen- - Mrs. Brenda Yoder, “It (teacher pay) is dum) will sustain, but barely sustainable on Licensed Indiana School in that referendum, which to raise a famCounselor $1.4 million is set ily, starting out anyaside for new staff or additional staff where from $32,000 to $37,000,” Mrs. to bring back a lot of the cuts that we Yoder said in an interview with Crimade,” said Mr. Steven Tripenfeldas, er. “Potential high school graduates Assistant Superintendent of Human considering going into teaching are Resources. “Umbaugh and Associ- discouraged because they incur the ates, our third party, had projected costs of a college education for little a consistent two percent growth in pay off. Fewer young adults are goexpenses every year, so that is what ing into teaching, fewer new teachwe are assuming we could maintain. ers are staying, and many teachers With that, we took into account in- are retiring earlier. “ creases in all things, so that would be Mrs. Yoder is also concerned with salary, benefits and things like that. where the state places emphasis in We are very confident that with the terms of education. new referendum there will be dollars “They devalue public education,” to support that.” Mrs. Yoder said. “They have deval-
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What do teachers want to see?
Do you feel teachers are valued in U.S. Society?
35% 60% No
Yes
Do you feel teachers are valued at MHS?
Do you think your compensation reflects your value?
If MHS teacher salaries do not increase or are not planned to increase, will you feel compelled to seek work elsewhere?
35%
35%
95%
55% No Response
60%
Maybe
source: Crier random survey of 20 teachers
ued the profession by saying anyone can teach, all they need to do is take a test for competency. Teaching is an art. Working with kids in an art. It is heart and soul. The mantra in business is that you get what you pay for. Devalue teachers by devaluing what they do, then expect them to accept it and do more work to prove they’re “highly effective.” It’s a slap in the face to educators.“
science education programs. In fact, Purdue Northwest told me that math and science together, they have two kids in all of Purdue Northwest enrolled in those.” Now many current and future teachers find themselves echoing concerns of Mr. Barnes. ‘It is very difficult to know what the future is going to be as far as where I am going to grow financially from doing this,” Mr. Barnes said. “Will I make more money than I did now two years from now? Or ten years from now? I think anyone in any job wants to know that there is a future in what they do and that they are going to grow and improve financially, but it is hard to see that as a teacher now with the way the climate is and financial aspects of this career.”
Effects of the shortage are beginning to be felt locally. “This year, I would say that we have been affected a little bit. We are a little different though. Because of our reputation, we still attract a lot of people,” Mr. Tripenfeldas said. “If you talk to the universities, very few kids enrolled in their math education or