Labor issues chasing teachers
From the Scranton Times Tribune, May 25, 2008:
Labor issues chasing teachers
Low pay, soaring health insurance costs and uncertain futures have teachers from the Scranton School District and the Diocese of Scranton scrambling to find new classrooms.
Area superintendents report more teachers than ever from Scranton and diocesan schools are applying for jobs in their districts, a likely result of high health insurance costs for Scranton teachers and Bishop Joseph F. Martino’s refusal to recognize a union in the diocese.
While the superintendents are hesitant to blame the issues in the diocese and Scranton School District for the reasons teachers want to leave, they say their districts can benefit from a pool of applicants with years of experience.
The influx of teachers with experience in the applicant pool may lead to a tougher climate for hundreds of new graduates trying to find teaching jobs. Some districts have received as many as 700 applications for a dozen or fewer positions.
Valley View has received 40 applications from Scranton teachers, and as many as 100 from diocesan teachers, Superintendent Joseph Daley estimated.
Diocesan teachers have interviewed at North Pocono, and in other districts, such as Dunmore, Old Forge, Abington Heights, Riverside and Lakeland, the applications of both diocesan and Scranton teachers are being reviewed.
Insurance concerns
Scranton teachers have become increasingly frustrated with health insurance costs. Since January, teachers have paid 34 percent more for health insurance than they did in 2007.
The hike means a teacher now pays $8,100 out-of-pocket for family health insurance. In all other Lackawanna County school districts, teachers pay nothing for similar plans.
In the current Scranton teachers contract, which was negotiated in 2002, the union voted to have its members pay for any health insurance rate increases higher than 1998 rates. The contract expires in August.
Scranton Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland said that during preparation periods, frustrated teachers are in faculty rooms openly filling out applications for other jobs.
“It’s a very bad situation, and unless we can get this thing addressed, Scranton is going to lose some of the best teachers and other districts are going to benefit,” Ms. Boland said. “I think the districts taking our people are lucky. Experience, you can’t beat it.
”Mr. Daley said that while interviewing one Scranton teacher for a job at Valley View, she revealed that with two children and the price of health insurance, she qualifies for food stamps after taxes.
Health insurance costs have not discouraged all applicants. So far the Scranton School District has received about 700 applications for 40 to 50 positions.
“I don’t think there’s any lack of people applying who want to work here,” said William King, assistant superintendent.
The district interviews candidates once every three years and ranks the applicants. For the following years, teachers are picked in order as jobs become available. Three years ago, the district had more than 1,000 applicants, Mr. King said.
While losing teachers is troublesome, Mr. King said ongoing union negotiations would hopefully provide a solution to the situation.
“We think that we have some of the best teachers in the state,” Mr. King said. “Anytime you lose a teacher, it’s obviously a cause for concern.
”Ms. Boland said the district must take action now on health insurance costs.“Scranton is losing some of the best,” Ms. Boland said. “I find that disgusting. I think it’s pathetic.”
Without a union
Many diocesan teachers have said they are looking for other jobs.
In January, the diocese announced it would not recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers as a collective bargaining unit, and instead has implemented an employee relations program. Without contracts, teachers say they are worried about their futures.
Diocesan spokesman William Genello said he wanted specific data, including percent increases in applications from diocesan teachers received by superintendents, before a statement was released.
Superintendents said they do not track applications by current employment, but have noticed the increase while reviewing them.
“The only thing I can say is that we have no indication that a significant number of teachers intend to leave our system,” Mr. Genello said. “Certainly people have to make decisions according to their own needs.”
Applications abundant
In between the stacks of applications that include diocesan and Scranton teachers are hundreds of packets from recent college graduates.
With some districts receiving as many as 600 or 700 applications for a dozen or fewer positions, there are far more qualified applicants than there are jobs.
“Our good people are forced to look elsewhere,” said Abington Heights Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D.
Mr. Daley said Valley View receives 25 to 30 applications a day, and it has been that way for more than a month. Five filing cabinets are filled, and another 10 to 15 copy paper boxes are stacked on the floor.
Dunmore has also received piles of application packets.
“We do have an abundant amount of highly qualified teachers in this area,” Superintendent Richard McDonald said. “The candidates are very, very good.”
Superintendents attribute the high number of applicants to the quality of life in the region, as well as an abundance of area colleges that offer teaching degrees.
Many teachers from this region have taken jobs in the Poconos and commute daily, Mr. Daley said. Now with gas at about $4 a gallon, more people are looking for jobs closer to home, he said.
Graduates who five years ago had to go to Maryland or Virginia to get a job and who now want to come back are also seeking jobs, Dr. Mahon said.
All Lackawanna County superintendents report seeing more applicants with elementary certification than those certified in secondary subjects like math and science.
While districts have plenty of elementary teachers to choose from, several positions, including German and Industrial Arts teachers, are hard to find.
Both Abington Heights and Riverside need and have advertised for German teachers. No one has applied yet.
Industrial Arts teachers are also hard to find, Dr. Mahon said.
“If you want a teaching job, learn how to do industrial arts or chemistry,” he added.
Labor issues chasing teachers
Low pay, soaring health insurance costs and uncertain futures have teachers from the Scranton School District and the Diocese of Scranton scrambling to find new classrooms.
Area superintendents report more teachers than ever from Scranton and diocesan schools are applying for jobs in their districts, a likely result of high health insurance costs for Scranton teachers and Bishop Joseph F. Martino’s refusal to recognize a union in the diocese.
While the superintendents are hesitant to blame the issues in the diocese and Scranton School District for the reasons teachers want to leave, they say their districts can benefit from a pool of applicants with years of experience.
The influx of teachers with experience in the applicant pool may lead to a tougher climate for hundreds of new graduates trying to find teaching jobs. Some districts have received as many as 700 applications for a dozen or fewer positions.
Valley View has received 40 applications from Scranton teachers, and as many as 100 from diocesan teachers, Superintendent Joseph Daley estimated.
Diocesan teachers have interviewed at North Pocono, and in other districts, such as Dunmore, Old Forge, Abington Heights, Riverside and Lakeland, the applications of both diocesan and Scranton teachers are being reviewed.
Insurance concerns
Scranton teachers have become increasingly frustrated with health insurance costs. Since January, teachers have paid 34 percent more for health insurance than they did in 2007.
The hike means a teacher now pays $8,100 out-of-pocket for family health insurance. In all other Lackawanna County school districts, teachers pay nothing for similar plans.
In the current Scranton teachers contract, which was negotiated in 2002, the union voted to have its members pay for any health insurance rate increases higher than 1998 rates. The contract expires in August.
Scranton Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland said that during preparation periods, frustrated teachers are in faculty rooms openly filling out applications for other jobs.
“It’s a very bad situation, and unless we can get this thing addressed, Scranton is going to lose some of the best teachers and other districts are going to benefit,” Ms. Boland said. “I think the districts taking our people are lucky. Experience, you can’t beat it.
”Mr. Daley said that while interviewing one Scranton teacher for a job at Valley View, she revealed that with two children and the price of health insurance, she qualifies for food stamps after taxes.
Health insurance costs have not discouraged all applicants. So far the Scranton School District has received about 700 applications for 40 to 50 positions.
“I don’t think there’s any lack of people applying who want to work here,” said William King, assistant superintendent.
The district interviews candidates once every three years and ranks the applicants. For the following years, teachers are picked in order as jobs become available. Three years ago, the district had more than 1,000 applicants, Mr. King said.
While losing teachers is troublesome, Mr. King said ongoing union negotiations would hopefully provide a solution to the situation.
“We think that we have some of the best teachers in the state,” Mr. King said. “Anytime you lose a teacher, it’s obviously a cause for concern.
”Ms. Boland said the district must take action now on health insurance costs.“Scranton is losing some of the best,” Ms. Boland said. “I find that disgusting. I think it’s pathetic.”
Without a union
Many diocesan teachers have said they are looking for other jobs.
In January, the diocese announced it would not recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers as a collective bargaining unit, and instead has implemented an employee relations program. Without contracts, teachers say they are worried about their futures.
Diocesan spokesman William Genello said he wanted specific data, including percent increases in applications from diocesan teachers received by superintendents, before a statement was released.
Superintendents said they do not track applications by current employment, but have noticed the increase while reviewing them.
“The only thing I can say is that we have no indication that a significant number of teachers intend to leave our system,” Mr. Genello said. “Certainly people have to make decisions according to their own needs.”
Applications abundant
In between the stacks of applications that include diocesan and Scranton teachers are hundreds of packets from recent college graduates.
With some districts receiving as many as 600 or 700 applications for a dozen or fewer positions, there are far more qualified applicants than there are jobs.
“Our good people are forced to look elsewhere,” said Abington Heights Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D.
Mr. Daley said Valley View receives 25 to 30 applications a day, and it has been that way for more than a month. Five filing cabinets are filled, and another 10 to 15 copy paper boxes are stacked on the floor.
Dunmore has also received piles of application packets.
“We do have an abundant amount of highly qualified teachers in this area,” Superintendent Richard McDonald said. “The candidates are very, very good.”
Superintendents attribute the high number of applicants to the quality of life in the region, as well as an abundance of area colleges that offer teaching degrees.
Many teachers from this region have taken jobs in the Poconos and commute daily, Mr. Daley said. Now with gas at about $4 a gallon, more people are looking for jobs closer to home, he said.
Graduates who five years ago had to go to Maryland or Virginia to get a job and who now want to come back are also seeking jobs, Dr. Mahon said.
All Lackawanna County superintendents report seeing more applicants with elementary certification than those certified in secondary subjects like math and science.
While districts have plenty of elementary teachers to choose from, several positions, including German and Industrial Arts teachers, are hard to find.
Both Abington Heights and Riverside need and have advertised for German teachers. No one has applied yet.
Industrial Arts teachers are also hard to find, Dr. Mahon said.
“If you want a teaching job, learn how to do industrial arts or chemistry,” he added.
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