No Texas Teacher Left Behind
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**Consolidation**

 

Consolidation in any form is to be feared. If the powers in Austin are successful in consolidating administrative positions, they will use that foot in the door to consolidate campuses. We do not need this nor do we want this.  We agree with many others who believe that if any consolidation should take place, it should begin with the charter schools. We must work diligently to defeat the members of this committee who believe in consolidation and elect candidates who believe in and support public education. Our chance will come in the Republican primary election in March. Make sure you are registered to vote.

The Way We See Current Issues in Education

  • The number one problem we have identified is that our state government does not have respect for teachers. We always felt that that was the case, but as we communicated with people who work in Austin and deal with the legislature every day, we were forced to acknowledge that this lack of respect is at the root of every other problem affecting teachers.  We have been told that many in Austin  think that teachers are whiney, pathetic people who cannot get organized enough to affect any election. We truly believe that students and parents would have greater respect for us if the legislature showed they had respect by passing legislation that improves the working conditions, salary, and retirement benefits of educators. You have heard of trickle down economics. Well, we call this trickle down respect.  Our mission then is to restore respect from the state legislature and governor.

  • Elected officials do not understand the laws that have already been passed or the laws that they are passing.  For example, when you ask a legislator if he understands the six month rule, the answer is usually no. Under the  six month rule teachers lose their annuity payment for any month in which they work for any part of a month in excess of six months.  In other words, teachers will lose a minimum of four months of annuity payment to teach full time.  We must educate our legislators on what teachers want and deserve. 
  • Active teachers need to be concerned about the increase in the contribution they make to retired teachers’ insurance. New legislation has increased this from 0.5% to 0.65%.  Some people believe that this is comparable to a gross receipts tax.  Most teachers are unaware that they are paying health benefits for retired teachers.  A teacher with twenty years’ experience will now pay a minimum of $265.20 a year to subsidize the retired teachers’ insurance.  This should not be the responsibility of the teaching profession. It is the responsibility of the state of Texas.  Texas teachers alone cannot balance the budget of the state of Texas.  Someone else will need to help.

  • Instead of increasing the number of state tests, there should be an effort to reduce the number of tests or at least the frequency at which they are given. The millions of dollars spent on the TAKS tests would do much to improve instruction. Cost of producing test questions is given as the reason that the 2005 TAKS test will not be released to teachers. If we cannot afford the testing program we now have, we do not need to expand it.

  • The school attendance laws need to be strengthened. We know that teachers can’t teach students who are not in class, but the current lenient attitude toward absences promotes absenteeism and truancy.   Schools are losing state dollars because of high absenteeism.

  • Modify the state salary schedule so that it extends beyond 20 years of experience. Since it seems that we will have to work a lot longer in order to retire, we don’t need to have our salaries frozen at 20 years of experience. 
  • Increase the state’s contribution to the TRS fund. Employees pay 6.4% and the state only pays 6%.  The state has promised many times to increase its contribution, but so far this has not happened.  The system is currently underfunded by approximately $11 billion.  Increasing the state contribution would help reduce this unfunded liability.   Teachers have not caused this problem and should not be expected to bear the financial responsibility alone. This is a state responsibility.
  • Resolve the Social Security issue.  Under current laws, Texas teachers are denied most, if not all of their Social Security benefits.  It is unfair that Texas teachers can't receive benefits from their FICA contributions or spousal benefits.

  • Retired teachers should support the repeal of the four-month annuity penalty when returning to work. State employees are allowed to retire and return to work without forfeiting any of their annuity. Teachers should be allowed to do the same.

  • The state teacher salary schedule and any raises should apply to working retired teachers.

  • Allow retired teachers to receive inservice training during the summer without loss of benefits.

  • All teachers need access to affordable health insurance.  Why shouldn't teachers enjoy the benefits that state employees or legislators have?

  • All of us should be concerned about the changes to the retirement plan that was passed in the last legislative session. Remember, these provisions do not go into effect before September 1, so there is a small chance that if enough teachers became involved, some of these might be repealed.  

  • Every teacher, active and retired, needs to support a meaningful pay raise that at least places Texas teachers at the national average salary and keeps us there or above.   

 

  • All mandated programs that the state imposes on school districts should be fully funded by the state. 

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