Teacher pay takes in more than salary

I just read a letter in Fence Post chastising the Daily Herald writer of the news article titled "Teacher Pay Hikes More Than They Seem."

I also read that article (on Nov. 12) and was pleased to learn there was more in a teacher's pay package than just base salary. For several years now I've been reading articles regarding potential and actual teacher union strikes. Sometimes I felt sorry for the teachers and sometimes I wondered what they would do in the business world.

In the various articles, in more newspapers than the Daily Herald, we read about the percentage salary increase the teachers are offered and the one accepted. I've read that the teachers are underpaid: their average salary is at the bottom or close to it on the list of other districts in the county; the percentage offered would not be enough to support their respective families; they have to continue their education to stay certified and must pay for it themselves; to hire qualified teachers will require a higher percentage increase; the percentage for this or that year in a multi-year contract is not high enough or might not match the potential rate of inflation.

I never heard of or read about there being more than one percentage category. I've heard of a pool of money given to the union to be doled out as it saw fit but only one percentage figure or total amount was given. Now I know a teacher's salary can consist of three parts: base, step and lane. I also understand we only read and hear about the base salary.

I think the letter writer makes a mistake comparing those three parts to salary, merit and promotional-increase in the business world. I grant you, base matches with salary, but merit and promotion increases have to do with proven ability and effectiveness on the job not longevity and education credits achieved.

Bob Druktanis Lindenhurst