Edmonds School Board raises teacher pay while cutting instruction time for students
Yesterday the Edmonds School Board approved a new budget which increases teacher pay by as much as 20 percent. The pay raise is in addition to current average teacher pay of $52/hour plus $19/hour in benefits. At the same time, school board members cut classroom time for students with four more Early Dismissal days, bringing the district’s total to 10 reduced-instruction days a year. On reduced-instruction days students must be out of the school building by at least 12:00, and as early as 10:20 a.m. at some schools.
Here are some details, based on school district reporting:
Edmonds School District 2018-19 budget is $316.9 million, or about $15,000 per student, more than the tuition at most private schools;
This budget is a $33.7 million, or 12 percent, increase over last year’s budget;
Only five years ago the Edmonds School District budget was $212 million, or $10,700 per student;
A large portion of Edmonds School District employees are non-teachers;
Only 48 percent of Edmonds School District employees are teachers.
So in just five years, school board members in Edmonds have received over $100 million more in funding, and cut classroom instruction for students.
One of the key shortcomings of the Edmonds School District, and of other traditional school districts, is the power of the central bureaucracy. Officials assign students to schools based on zip code, not student needs.
Choice is strictly limited. Families can ask school officials to change a school assignment, but only to some schools, and only if the student is acceptable to school officials. Many students are not permitted to attend the public school of their choice.
The state’s public charter schools, however, offer a different model for public education. Attendance is based on student choice, and some charters provide students with up to 13 additional school days. Often charter schools also provide longer school days, to 4:00 p.m, giving students a richer experience and expanded options for learning.
Charter schools are popular because they are designed to respond to the needs of parents and students. Charter school administrators listen to parents, since enrollment is based on parent choice. Charters typically have long waiting lists.
As the Edmonds School Board cuts learning time for students in the face of large budget increases, it is likely to spark interest in opening a public charter school in the area. An area charter school would give parents real choice. An area charter school would help parents avoid lost learning opportunities from reduced-instruction days.
And finally, by providing competition for students, and the money that comes with them, an area charter school would help the Edmonds School District understand that parents and the broader public want more days with more instruction for their students, not more days with reduced instruction.