It appears as if our school board and the administrators do not value education. We're still walking probably 6 miles a day with signs in our hands (mine now says "average pay attracts average teachers") and getting support in the form of horn honks from passer by, free snacks and drinks, and a bunch of students walking with us. That's very nice of you.
However, we could use some folks to step up and help out in more significant ways. I know no one reads this, but if you happen by when you're searching for "Bellevue teacher strike" here are some things you can do to help get me back to work:
On a more blog-like personal note, if a suitable agreement is not arrived at, I'll be changing districts. The mandated daily lessons have to become optional without threat of reprimand and my salary has to increase to justify the costs of transportation. My school is quite possibly the best school ever, but there comes a time when a person has to try new things. The Bellevue School District may not be for me after all. For example, here's my pay in various other districts as it compares to Bellevue (4 years experience, Master's degree, +45 credits).
District | Distance | Salary | Transportation-Adjusted Salary |
---|---|---|---|
Everett | 23.6 miles | $57,636 | $56599.49 |
Lake Washington | 17.5 miles | $56,244 | $55475.40 ($54011.40 with tolls) |
Mercer Island | 14.0 miles | $54,088 | $53473.12 ($52009.12 with tolls) |
Bellevue | 14.5 miles | $49,898 (current rate) | $49261.16 ($47797.16 with tolls) |
Northshore | 11.7 miles | $49,516 (06 salary rate) | $49002.14 |
Seattle | < 16.6 miles | $48,933 or $52,896 (old rate, not sure about credits) | $48203.93 or $52166.93 |
Shoreline | 5 miles | $46,225 | $46005.4 |
Edmonds | 9.9 miles | $46,012 | $45577.19 |
places i'd like to move to: | |||
Portland, OR | $53,656 | ||
Santa Cruz, CA | $48,590 | ||
Berkeley, CA | $57,560 | ||
New York, NY | $61,943 | ||
Minneapolis, MN | $47,086 | ||
this crazy place | $125,000 |
There are many more factors than just transportation of course, but it's getting late. My car costs about $0.12 a mile to run (don't ask). I work (at school) 183 days a year. (You probably work 260 days if you don't take vacations and don't work on weekends). A toll bridge is rumored to add $8 a day to my transportation costs.
In all likelihood, I'd attempt to get hired in Seattle. Preferably at an alternative school. So, when the tolls go in, do I pay about $400 (or pass up a raise) a year to keep working with the greatest kids in the world, or do I use that $400 to buy a sweet fixed gear road bike to ride to work every day? I guess it's up to the school board at this point.