Do We Need More State Employees?
According to a recent article in the Kennebec Journal, Rep. Randy Hotham, R-Dixfield, is the sponsor of a bill (with co-sponsors Rep. Joshua Tardy, R-Newport, and Sens. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, Peter Mills, R-Cornville and Joseph Perry, D-Bangor) which will create a commission to study making all Maine public school teachers state employees.
The article by Keith Edwards, defines "the issues the commission will examine, include creating parity in pay, health-care and retirement benefits between teachers and state workers; the possibility of the state paying salaries and benefits of teachers and identifying a source of funding to do so; addressing the shortage of teachers in some geographic areas in some subject areas; and exploring property tax savings that could result."
Sponsor Hotham believes that making teachers state employees could free up local school boards to concentrate more on educational issues, rather than contract and other employment issues with teachers.
"It would seem it could be a tremendous burden taken off the local property tax rolls," Hotham said. "I don't mean to take any local control away."
One of the biggest examples of local control has traditionally been the establishment of teacher salary and employment contracts. Local economic conditions and community values have influenced contract deliberations. Local decisions have determined the length of the school day and school year, as well as working conditions like health and life insurance benefits.
But whether you realize it or not, the State already treats teachers as employees, at least when it comes to who pays the employer share of Maine State Retirement. Although salaries are as disparate as the communities which determine them, the employer share is paid directly to the retirement system by the State, and doesn’t even appear in local budget considerations.
The Education Committee voted Wednesday, March 29th ,to create a commission to study making all Maine public school teachers state employees, and when this resolve is enacted by the Legislature, will be formed within 30 days and be expected to report back by Jan. 15, 2009.
Commission members will include eight appointees picked by legislators, two educators, a school administrator, and a school board member.
Can we maintain local control of education while making all teachers State employees?
The article by Keith Edwards, defines "the issues the commission will examine, include creating parity in pay, health-care and retirement benefits between teachers and state workers; the possibility of the state paying salaries and benefits of teachers and identifying a source of funding to do so; addressing the shortage of teachers in some geographic areas in some subject areas; and exploring property tax savings that could result."
Sponsor Hotham believes that making teachers state employees could free up local school boards to concentrate more on educational issues, rather than contract and other employment issues with teachers.
"It would seem it could be a tremendous burden taken off the local property tax rolls," Hotham said. "I don't mean to take any local control away."
One of the biggest examples of local control has traditionally been the establishment of teacher salary and employment contracts. Local economic conditions and community values have influenced contract deliberations. Local decisions have determined the length of the school day and school year, as well as working conditions like health and life insurance benefits.
But whether you realize it or not, the State already treats teachers as employees, at least when it comes to who pays the employer share of Maine State Retirement. Although salaries are as disparate as the communities which determine them, the employer share is paid directly to the retirement system by the State, and doesn’t even appear in local budget considerations.
The Education Committee voted Wednesday, March 29th ,to create a commission to study making all Maine public school teachers state employees, and when this resolve is enacted by the Legislature, will be formed within 30 days and be expected to report back by Jan. 15, 2009.
Commission members will include eight appointees picked by legislators, two educators, a school administrator, and a school board member.
Can we maintain local control of education while making all teachers State employees?
posted by Art | 4/02/2007 09:45:00 AM
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