Allison Taylor writes…

A very important issue is coming up regarding funding for our pre-k program, and the board will be voting on the teacher salary at tonight’s board meeting. I don’t know that very many parents in CSD know the whole story about what is going on with this particular subject, so please take just a minute to read this message.

I am sure most of you have heard about the shortening of the pre-k school year by the governor. Basically, the school year will decrease from 180-160 days. Many teachers throughout the state were concerned about this shortening of the year, but I think most everyone was relieved to avoid the half day proposition which was also on the table and let the issue rest when this “compromise” was made. HOWEVER, there is some very important information that went along with this bill that is not widely known and was certainly not publicized. Not only have teacher’s salaries been cut to reflect the number of days they are teaching, the state has also placed caps on the salaries. As it stands now in Decatur, a teacher with 4 years of experience, A Bachelor Degree, and a teaching certificate, will only make $31,303. Someone with the same credentials and 20 years of experience will only make $35,982. And someone who has devoted 30 years to teaching the children of CSD can only make $39,747.

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