Teaching requires dedication, caring

My name is Susan Stolley and I am a teacher for Boundary County School District. I was awarded a bachelor's degree in social science and secondary education from Carroll College in 1983, followed by a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Carroll in 1986. Since that time I have earned more than 54 college credits to further my training in the field of education. I have been a teacher for 21 1/2 years and an employee of this district since 1988.

Presently I am at the top of the district's pay scale based on my educational credentials, but I am paid the same as a teacher with 13 years experience, since the district has no provisions for salary advancement once a teacher passes the 13-year experience mark. The only way for me to receive a raise is through the school board's negotiation process with the Boundary County Education Association.

The Idaho Department of Education requires me to be certified to teach in Idaho, as well as earn six in-service/college credits every five years. I must do this in order for my certificate to be renewed. I must bear 100 percent of the cost of these credits. Presently one undergraduate credit from the University of Idaho is $175 and 1 graduate credit is $205. These monies are tax deductible, as is the $75 license filing fee. The majority of school districts reimburse their teachers who earn graduate credits, however Boundary County does not. To move into a new column based upon educational credits means an employee has to earn 9 semester credits.

The Idaho Legislature has funded a 3-percent raise for certified teachers the past four years. This raise is figured upon the entry level salary of a teacher with a bachelor's degree and 0 years experience. This is called the base salary. The money is sent to the district and placed in the general fund.

It is up to the school board to earmark these funds for raises. Instead this money has been put into the district's general fund and spent on other district expenses. The negotiated raise for teachers this year was .7 percent of the base. This 3 percent money has not been given to teachers by our trustees. The cistrict has raised the entry level pay to $27,500 as mandated by the ssstate. This mandate was not totally funded by the State until this year. In addition the state only funds 85 percent of teacher's salaries above the base level, the remaining 15 percent must come from the district. The district has failed to meet the cost of living increase the last four years. This year for the first time many employees of the district are netting less income than last year as they absorb the cost of insurance increases. The following table reflects my income:

Year Base My Contract My Raise

1999 $20,725 $40,614 $1244

2000 $21,761 $42,434 $1820

2001 $22,200 $43,290 $856*

2002 $22,200 $43,290 $0

2003 $22,430 $43,739 $449*

2004 $22,563 $43,998 $259

*I received these raises because I took several college classes to further my professional abilities. Without taking additional coursework I would have received no raises in these years. My credits total cost for 2001 was $792 and the total for 2003 was $882. Also consider time away from family, travel costs, and housing while attending school.

When someone says a teacher averages more than $50,000 in Boundary County they are referring to salary plus benefits. Benefits include insurance and retirement. The district pays all of my insurance costs as a single person. Teachers with dependants pay out of their gross income for their spouses and dependents. The retirement contribution goes to the Public Employee Retirement Savings of Idaho. (PERSI) When I had dependent children, the fistrict paid a portion of their premiums.

Last year I spent $810.44 of my personal funds on materials for my classroom. I was allowed to deduct $250 of this amount on my 2004 tax returns. The district budgets $350 per year for my classroom's materials. I have 125 students this year. That figure amounts to $2.80 per student for the year. The $810.44 does not include raffle tickets, band tickets, cookie dough, magazines, booster fund-raisers and the like. This figure does not account for the donated labor I do for the district. I work at many athletic events gratis. I haven't ever figured the total hours for a school year, but in the past month I have worked a total of 18 volunteer hours for the district's 7-12 track programs. This past weekend I scored young author's stories as a service to our students.

I looked up entry level salaries offered by the federal government in Boundary County. These salaries are based upon employment of an individual with a bachelor's degree and no work experience:

Forest Service: $30,567

Federal Law Enforcement: $34,643

I realize these individuals work 12 calendar months. This amounts to 365 days, less the 104 weekend days, equaling 261 days. Employees in these professions receive 10 days paid vacation as well as 10 federal holidays. The total of work days for these positions is 241. $30,567 divided by 241 amounts to $126.83 per work day or $15.85 per hour based upon an 8 hour shift for the Forest Service. Federal law enforcement jobs such as Homeland Security begin at $34,643. When divided by 241 the result is $143.75 or $17.97 per hour. All of the government positions pay overtime beyond the 40-hour work week as well as fund 100 percent of their employee's training costs. A beginning teacher in Boundary County is paid $27,500 for 190 days. This equals $144.74 per day or $19.30 per hour based on a 7 1/2 hour shift. These individuals, like educators are paid for their professional abilities. The reality is that most new federal employees with bachelor's degrees enter the work sector at a GS7 level. The annual salary for these positions is $45,534 per year, $188.94 per day, or $23.62 per hour. The district does not pay overtime for teachers after the 7 1/2 day.

I also decided to look at wages for entry level positions at Welco and Riley Creek. I called the mills and the employers generously provided information. They do not require a high school diploma, but employees must pass a test that shows the applicant can read, write, and perform basic math operations. The following figures were provided:

Welco: Day $11.58 per hour/$24,000per year

Night $12.08 per hour/$25,000 per year

Riley Creek:

Day $9.65 per hour/$18.605

Swing $9.94 per hour/$19,164.32

Graveyard $10 per hour/$19,280

Every year the district has run maintenance and operations levies to continue operating the current programs. I agree that the levy should be run only once. It saddens me to see this issue rip apart our community every year. I am further saddened by the programs that will be cut to balance the budget. But rest assured the tax payers of

Boundary County will still pay an increased tax for this decision. I have no doubt the State Legislature will appropriate this amount of money and more to construct detention centers, to increase programs for youths that have committed juvenile offenses, or become addicted to drugs or alcohol. More of our youth will be disenfranchised. Right now Idaho has the second largest prison growth rate in the nation as well as leading the nation in child abuse. Our public assistance expenses will increase dramatically. Today Idaho spends $6444 annually per student and $30,500 annually per inmate.

And one more thing, a recent Bonners Ferry Herald had an article on the front page about a $985,000 grant issued by the federal government to look into the feasibility of expanding Highway 95 between mile-marker 536 and the Canadian border. Does anyone else see the irony in this figure, or the fact that nobody in Boundary County was allowed to vote on this expenditure?