To the Editor:

The Stevens Point School Board, during their October 12th meeting, made a decision that was an insult to every teacher in the district that makes less than $51,000.

The board voted to hire a Director of Communications at $69,000 for a 260-day contract. Keep in mind the individual that was hired holds only a Bachelor’s degree.

The board took this action while refusing to bargain with the teachers and imposing raises that were less than half the cost of living increase.

If you do the math $69,000/260 days = $265.38 per day. All teachers in the district must have a Bachelor’s degree and work a 194 day contract, so let’s do the math again $265.38 x 194 = $51,438. According to the board’s decision on October 12th every teacher in the district should be worth at least $51,438, but yet 42 percent of the full time teaching staff in the Stevens Point School District make less than that.

All of these figures are without including the 4 weeks of vacation and 2% 403(b) match that is not offered to teachers.

When you include all of these benefits it makes every teacher worth at least $56,890, while over 48 percent of the full time teachers in the district make less than that.

I have been in education for 13 years- five with the Stevens Point School District and make far less than a Communications Director (adjusted for contract days).

I may not have a fancy title but I communicate with students, staff, and parents on a regular basis, maintain labs, develop curriculum, all while delivering relevant and rigorous curriculum to my students on a daily basis.

It is time for the Stevens Point School Board to show their teachers that they respect them as much as the administrative personnel.

Matt Jacowski
Plover