To the Editor of the “News and Messenger:” I am at a loss to understand exactly what the position of the “News and Messenger” is regarding teacher salaries in Prince William County. Your editorial on March 18, 2009 called the incorporation of a 2.9-percent COLA for employees in the 2010 budget “irresponsible.” But on January 31, 2009, you ran a cartoon that included the following speech: “Did you know that PW County teachers are the lowest paid in the area?” On May 5, 2008, you ran an op-ed by Denise Openhagen that read, “Teachers must be paid more.” On March 17, 2008, the “News and Messenger,” in its editorial said, “Higher salaries are needed to keep the county competitive.” On March 2, 2008, you ran an entire article titled “Salaries seem low for county instructors.” So which is it? In the March 18, 2009 article, Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) was chided for the link, made by the author, of the COLA to the federal stimulus. To clarify this very issue, the School Division sent an email to the media on March 13, 2009 (including three of your own reporters and editors), stating that the COLA would be funded through other cuts in the budget. Not one penny of stimulus money will be spent for the COLA. And let’s not forget that the federal government is itself giving a COLA to employees. We selected the COLA rather than the traditional “Step” method, which is what school systems use nationwide, because it allowed us to improve starting salaries and otherwise help make us more competitive. And approximately 80 percent of our employees are Prince William County residents, so that money is staying in our community. After taking PWCS to task for a year about teacher salaries, it is inconsistent to turn around and declare that raising teacher salaries is irresponsible. It is high time that we reward employees for their excellent work and try to improve our competitive posture regarding salary compensation. Sincerely, Milton C. Johns, Chairman At-Large |