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Analysis of 2007-08 professional
collective bargaining agreements

Bachelor's degree salaries
The average bachelor's degree salary of $36,861 reflects a gain of $955 (2.7%) on the beginning salary over last year's average of $35,906. 

Bachelor's degree maximums increased $1,326, a 2.1% increase over last year's average of $61,940.

MINIMUM

MAXIMUM

Distribution

Pct. Districts 

Distribution

Pct. Districts

Below $32,000

12%

Below $55,000

14%

32,000-32,499

3%

55,000-55,999

2%

32,500-32,999

3%

56,000-56,999

3%

33,000-33,499

2%

57,000-57,999

4%

33,500-33,999

3%

58,000-58,999

5%

34,000-34,499

4%

59,000-59,999

6%

34,500-34,999

3%

60,000-60,999

6%

35,000-35,499

4%

61,000-61,999

7%

35,500-35,999

4%

62,000-62,999

6%

36,000-36,499

6%

63,000-63,999

5%

36,500-36,999

5%

64,000-64,999

5%

37,000-37,499

6%

65,000-65,999

6%

37,500-37,999

4%

66,000-66,999

4%

38,000-38,499

4%

67,000-67,999

4%

38,500-38,999

4%

68,000-68,999

3%

39,000-39,499

3%

69,000-69,999

3%

39,500-39,999

4%

70,000-70,999

1%

40,000-40,499

5%

71,000-71,999

2%

40,500-40,999

6%

72,000-72,999

1%

41,000 & Above

15%

73,000 & Above

13%

Bachelors' Degree

Minimum

Bachelors' Degree

Maximum

Mean (average)

$36,861

Mean

$63,266

Median 
(1/2 above, 1/2 below)

$37,170

Median 

$62,722

   

Master's Degree Salaries
Master's degree minimums increased $980, a 2.5% increase over the 2006-07 average of $38,743. Master's degree maximums increased $1,536, a 2.3% increase over the 2006-07 average of $67,648.

 

MINIMUM

MAXIMUM

Distribution

Pct. Districts

Distribution

Pct. Districts

Below $34,500

16%

Below $60,000

11%

34,500-34,999

3%

60,000-60,999

5%

35,000-35,499

3%

61,000-61,999

6%

35,500-35,999

3%

62,000-62,999

3%

36,000-36,499

2%

63,000-63,999

6%

36,500-36,999

4%

64,000-64,999

4%

37,000-37,499

5%

65,000-65,999

7%

37,500-37,999

3%

66,000-66,999

5%

38,000-38,499

3%

67,000-67,999

8% 

38,500-38,999

3% 

68,000-68,999

4%

39,000-39,499

3%

69,000-69,999

5%

39,500-39,999

3%

70,000-70,999

4%

40,000-40,499

4%

71,000-71,999

2%

40,500-40,999

4%

72,000-72,999

0%

41,000-41,499

4%

73,000-73,999

3%

41,500-41,999

3%

74,000-74,999

2%

42,000-42,499

6%

75,000-75,999

2%

42,500-42,999

3%

76,000-76,999

1%

43,000-43,499

4%

77,000-77,999

2%

43,500-43,999

3%

78,000-78,999

1%

44,000-44,499

0%

79,000-79,999

2%

44,500-44,999

2%

80,000-80,999

1%

45,000-45,499

3%

81,000-81,999

2%

45,500 & Above

13% 

82,000 & Above

14%

Master's Degree

Minimum

Master's Degree

Maximum

Mean (average)

$39,723

Mean

$69,184

Median 
(1/2 above, 1/2 below)

$39,666

Median 

$67,266

   

Teachers' Workyear and Normal Workday
The average number of workdays in the teachers' normal workyear remained steady for 2007-08 at 188 days. Again, most contracts call for a normal workday of  7-1/2 hours.

 

    No. of
  Workdays

Pct. Districts

    Normal Workday
(hrs) *

Pct. Districts

181 or fewer

1%

Fewer than 7 hrs.

1%

182-183

5%

7 hrs. to
7 hrs. and 14 min.

5%

184-185

25%

7 hrs. and 15 min.
to 7 hrs. and 29 min.

14%

186-187

24%

7 hrs. and 30 min.
to 7 hrs. and 44 min.

70%

188-189

16%

7 hrs. and 45 min.
to 7 hrs. and 59 min.

8%

190-191

20%

8 hrs.

2%

192-193

6%

 

 

194 or more

3%

 

 

 

 

*Includes 30-minute
duty-free lunch

   

Fringe Benefits

Term life insurance is provided in 97% of the districts

All districts (100%) provide health insurance plans, with 35% being paid for the employee's dependents. In 81% of the districts, dental insurance is paid, with 77% paying for dependents. Vision care insurance is provided in 61%, prescription plans in 25%.

Tuition reimbursement is included in 92% of the contracts.  An income protection plan is provided in 39%.

Tuition Reimbursement
None of the 68% of districts that pay a percent pays less than 50% of the total cost.
      Mean          91%
      Mode          100%

Pct. of Total Cost Paid

Pct. of Districts

100%

65%

80-99%

13%

60-79%

16%

50-59%

6%

Term of Agreement
Most newly negotiated agreements (43%) are for five years.

Term

Pct. of Districts

2 years or less

2%

3 years

18%

4 years

30%

5 years

43%

6 years

5%

7 years or more

2%

 

Instructional Days

Number of Days

% of Districts

180

68%

181

6%

182

11%

183

6%

184

6%

185

1%

186

1%

187

0%

188

1%

Of the 254 school districts that reported instructional days in their professional agreements, the average number of days was 181. The maximum number of days reported was 192.

    

Analysis of 2007-08 professional collective bargaining agreements

Each year, the PSBA research staff compiles a review of major contract provisions of all professional contracts received to date. This analysis is based on 376 contracts. School districts can use this report each year to make statewide comparisons, evaluating their current agreement against trends established by more recent settlements.

               The average starting salary for teachers is $36,861. Of districts reporting minimum salaries, the average starting salary rose $955, a 2.7% increase over the 2006-07 average of $35,906. Master's degree minimums increased $980, a 2.5% increase over the 2006-07 average of $38,743.

               Bachelor's degree maximums increased $1,326 a 2.1% increase over the 2006-07 average of $61,940. Master's degree maximums increased $1,536, a 2.3% increase over the 2006-07 average of $67,648. (A few contracts do not report minimum or maximum salaries. The salary charts in this article are based on those reporting minimum and maximum salaries.)

The most prominently featured subjects at the table are salary and benefits. Historically, teachers have had comprehensive medical coverage that has been fully sponsored by their employer. Without question, the costs associated with such benefit packages have proven to be too cost-prohibitive, especially with districts trying to control special education costs, PSERS contributions, fund building projects, and invest in more professional development opportunities for staff while limiting any potential tax increases within a culture of tax reform.   

School districts have been rather creative in dealing with the issue of health insurance costs. Some agreements require the employee to pay a flat rate each pay period for medical coverage, with that fee rising if the employee selects two-person and/or family coverage. Other contracts call for the employee to contribute a small percentage of his or her annual salary or a percentage of the premium itself -- so the burden is more equitably spread throughout the bargaining unit.

Still others mandate a specific percentage contribution depending upon the employee’s placement on the salary schedule, with the highest paid employees contributing more. Finally, more districts are creating incentives for employees to utilize other insurance plans (such as a spouse’s plan through another employer) by paying the employee a percentage of the total premium cost to the district. Health care consortiums continue to be utilized as a cost-savings measure as well.

It is clear from PSBA’s comprehensive analysis of contracts throughout the state that the percentage of agreements with cost-sharing provisions continues to rise. The percentage of districts with cost sharing of fringe benefits is:  66% for health benefits, 22% for dental, 14% for vision, and 14% for prescription. Last year, these figures were:  59% for health benefits, 20% for dental, 11% for vision and 16% for prescription.

Other issues prominently featured in contract talks are early retirement incentive plans, teacher workday and work year requirements, and tuition reimbursement language. Early retirement incentive plans, while still a bargaining issue in some districts, seems to be less prominently featured at the table. The motivation for such incentives continues to be savings on labor costs. Teacher workdays average seven hours, 30 minutes and work-year trends continue to stay around 190 days. Tuition reimbursement clauses, a major professional development expense to school districts, are also a source of contention as parties work through the amount of credit reimbursement, the number of credits to be reimbursed annually, and other performance based terms attached to such benefits.

If you need more details, contact Anne Herald at PSBA Research
 (800) 932-0588 or (717) 506-2450, ext. 3364.