Teachers In Spokane, Washington Speak Out Against Administrators' Salary Boost

Washington's Spokesman-Review (10/13, Turner) reported that members of the Spokane Education Association on Wednesday "packed the [Spokane school system's] board of directors meeting to express disappointment the elected school board members approved raises for 104 school principals and administrators while 1,700 of the union's 3,000 members – those who work with students – saw a pay cut." Association President Jenny Rose expressed the overwhelming sentiment of the crowd, "The morale of hard-working employees in this school district is dismal. ... People are feeling over worked with district mandates, over used, and not being recognized for the job they are doing." The Spokesman-Review added that most principals and administrators "received pay increases of 3 percent or more this summer according to district records obtained by The Spokesman-Review that compare 2009-10 salary schedules to 2010-11." According to district officials, the increase "stemmed from a bargaining agreement with the district's principals union for an additional reward for years of service."