Even as state leaders discuss budget cuts that could affect education funding, a survey of local education salaries indicates it is not the underpaid profession it once was.
Among Jackson County’s three school systems, 15 people made over $100,000 per year and another 46 made between $80,000-$99,999, according to state records for fiscal year 2008.
School systems’ yearly salaries top $64 million
The highest paid employees in the three school systems were the superintendents, with the top salary being $154,160. Two of the three local superintendents make more than Gov. Sonny Perdue, who earned $137,000 in salary last year.
Education is the largest employer in Jackson County with the three school systems employing a total of 2,443 people. Some of those are part-time staffers, or provide non-instruction, school support services.
The Jackson County School System is the largest taxing authority in the county. Together, the three school systems collect more local property tax dollars than the county and city governments combined.
While most school funds come from the state, local systems also levy property taxes. In recent years, cuts in state funds has shifted more of the costs to local school taxes.
Collectively, the three school systems in Jackson County paid $64.7 million in salaries in Fiscal Year 2008, according to state audit records posted on Georgia’s open government website. The systems paid another $304,223 in travel reimbursements during the year.
The highest paid staff members were generally in school management positions, either in central offices, as principals or assistant principals at individual schools. However, some long-time teachers made well above $60,000 per year with at least one teacher making $90,000 last year.
Most school salaries are set by the state and the majority of positions are state paid. However, local school systems are free to offer supplementary pay to teachers, coaches and other employees from local tax funds. Most salaries in education are based on a combination of length of service and the college degrees a person has garnered.
In addition, some school system employees are paid as instructional staff for nine months of the year while most administrative staff members are paid for 12 months.
The state has been debating cutting additional funds from schools in the coming fiscal year. School nurses, for example, may no longer be funded by the state. Locally, the Jackson County School System is going to delay teacher contracts until April to await the results of state funding. For its part, the state is awaiting the outcome of the Congressional stimulus legislation to see what federal funds might be made available to the state.
A complete listing of salaries and travel reimbursements for all state employees in Fiscal Year 2008 can be found here.
Education is the largest employer in Jackson County with the three school systems employing a total of 2,443 people. Some of those are part-time staffers, or provide non-instruction, school support services.
The Jackson County School System is the largest taxing authority in the county. Together, the three school systems collect more local property tax dollars than the county and city governments combined.
While most school funds come from the state, local systems also levy property taxes. In recent years, cuts in state funds has shifted more of the costs to local school taxes.
Collectively, the three school systems in Jackson County paid $64.7 million in salaries in Fiscal Year 2008, according to state audit records posted on Georgia’s open government website. The systems paid another $304,223 in travel reimbursements during the year.
The highest paid staff members were generally in school management positions, either in central offices, as principals or assistant principals at individual schools. However, some long-time teachers made well above $60,000 per year with at least one teacher making $90,000 last year.
Most school salaries are set by the state and the majority of positions are state paid. However, local school systems are free to offer supplementary pay to teachers, coaches and other employees from local tax funds. Most salaries in education are based on a combination of length of service and the college degrees a person has garnered.
In addition, some school system employees are paid as instructional staff for nine months of the year while most administrative staff members are paid for 12 months.
The state has been debating cutting additional funds from schools in the coming fiscal year. School nurses, for example, may no longer be funded by the state. Locally, the Jackson County School System is going to delay teacher contracts until April to await the results of state funding. For its part, the state is awaiting the outcome of the Congressional stimulus legislation to see what federal funds might be made available to the state.
A complete listing of salaries and travel reimbursements for all state employees in Fiscal Year 2008 can be found here.
Defined tags for this entry: mike
last thought, don't forget to deduct at least 33 percent from all of salaries because,as you know, Uncle Sam graciously takes this from all of us. Our pay scales may now seem a little more realistic to you. My mother's death
announcement is in this week's paper as well as this article about teacher salaries.
How ironic! She always told me to stand up for what I believed in. I believe she would be
proud.
divide our salaries by 12 months, so we can have money
during the summer,spring, winter, and fall breaks. Our contracts are for 180 days plus 10
days for planning. With the degrees teachers have we still
don't get pay enough for what we do. Trust, most of don't
teach for the check. We teach because we love it. For every
one that's is running their mouths PLEASE COME INTO OUR
WORLD as educators, and I bet you will have a different frame of mind.
not be enough news for you to cover that you have to
publish 5 pages of teachers by name and their salaries.
Do you remember who taught you
the basic skills that you do
everyday? That knowledge is priceless and we don't
get paid enough for providing you or others with that
knowledge. Teachers don't teach for the money and we
don't create our own salaries. So what if a teacher
makes over $60,000 a year? We don't start out making
that kind of money and most of us will not see that
kind of money until we have been teaching for 15 years and
have higher education degrees.
Although salaries for teachers are public knowledge,
you could have listed a salary schedule that most county
and city websites provide. That way you would have only
taken up half a page and been able to get real news in
the paper, what a concept! Next week I would like to
see you publish the salaries of everyone that is
employed with the paper.
Furthermore, everyone wants to bash Mike for doing his job - how many of you would be willing to walk in his shoes? How much he makes, what kind of house he lives in, how much the employees of the paper make is all irrelevant to the facts being as none of the taxpayer's money (mine as a taxpayer included) are going to pay for any of the above. Mike has published the facts, take them as you may, but he hasn't pointed out or attacked one person individually. From the comments that I have read, everyone wants to attack him for doing his job.
The recession dictates that these kind of things are looked at a little harder, not belaboring the fact that select, long-term, quality educators make over $60K. I know many teachers that earn every penny. They deserve our admiration and sincere thanks. Spend a day as a substitute teacher or observer. You will see. Then try an entire school year....
For any teacher (regardless of grade or specality), your pay grade does not reflect your degree. I have a M.Ed...if I went 6+ years and earned a degree in anything else aside from teaching, I would be making a whole lot more, I assure you!
As far as the one comment above concerning just listing a generic scale or a website, you know good and well that no one would ever check these. Sweeping this issue under the rug is exactly what some of these teachers want. After all, who wants to admit they are overpaid, much less have the general public know they are overpaid? This is called ACCOUNTABILITY. This is taxpayer money and it should demand a higher standard of stewardship. Few people are diligent to the point where they would just look up this information on their own, but having this information published in the paper is a good source of public awareness. With the public aware of how their hard-earned money is being spent, things can and should change. I agree that some of these salaries need to come in line with the rest of the community.
Also, it seems that some people feel that the teachers' privacy was violated with this publication, evidenced by ridiculous comments demanding to know the salaries of newspaper employees. We, the taxpayers, fund the teachers paychecks, and we deserve the right to know how our money is being spent. The newspaper is a private business receiving no taxpayer dollars. What they do with their money is their own business. Private businesses absolutely fall into a separate category.
Good grief ! Where's the story about the that money pit of a JCCI that we as tax payers pour money into and get nothing but garbage convict labor out of ???
Drive around county farm and look at the millions of dollars of equipment that has not moved for months ! It's a dicey subject so hey let's take the easy way out and chase after the teachers instead ! Come on Mike this story is possibly your biggest cheap shot ever and YOU know it.
I challenge Mike Buffington and the Main Street news to look into the JCCI and it's corruption over the years. I further challenge them to start looking into the real cash cows in the areas you cover....and folks even if you cut salaries and staff 50% it's not enough to save you from a tax increase.
The subject is DEBT acquired by local governments to build capital projects...not salaries and benefits.
Think hard folks and especially Mike B. these folks take that money(there pay) and spend it locally on things like a Jackson herald subscription and goods and services ! It's the debt load that was used to build a courthouse and a massive high school that needs to be scrutinized not benefits and salaries.
Are you up to some real deep journalism Mike or just going to sit back and take pot shots at Big Brother local government and schools because you can ?
In my opinion the teacher/librarian/custodial/para salaries seem in line.
It's some of the higher ups who are paid too much.
I wish more Jefferson gov't salaries were published and all accounting records for that matter.
PS I have heard we can now donate funds to public schools and it's tax deductible.
My $ is going to art, chorus, and the library!
They are a good band, and the parents should be proud. For that kind of money, you should expect no less. You are paying double.
Wake up it's the debt that Harold Fletcher and Pat Bell acquired !
We need a public safety training center like a bloody nose ! We built a jail we CAN'T afford to move into !
Salaries are such a small percentage of the issue and ANY manager that cuts staff to cut his budget should follow those employees out the door because he is too lazy to find out where the real problem lies !
I will say it again...start looking at acquired debt by the BOE and BOC and the REAL story unfolds !
I have been a teacher for a number of years now. It is a job I love and would choose to do again and again. Though some teachers' salaries may seem extravagant, particularly if you've lost your job in this terrible economy, we do work very hard for your children. Personally, I am so happy to see students that I taught doing well with their lives and I continue to encourage those who have not found their particular way yet.
I thought when I saw the article about educator salaries, there was some pertinent information to be disclosed. Perhaps it was hidden between the phrasings. Anyway, educator salaries are public information. I really don't mind people knowing what I make because I do work very hard to earn it.
I'm not going to try justifying why this should be true. It is. At the time I earned my second degree, my husband was declared legally blind and could drive only limitedly and then moved to not being able to drive at all. My son was not old enough to drive and was very active at school. I helped my husband figure out how he would get back and forth to work in Athens. I drove him myself and then drove back to Jackson County to work. I didn't complain and don't complain now. I did what I had to do to support my family. At the same time, I was earning my Masters Degree. I needed to help my family and I needed to be a better teacher for my students. I sacrificed my time and money and struggled because I can help my students by example. None of what I faced was easy.
I did not whine nor complain, I simply took the steps I needed in order to help those I feel responsible for. I know what it's like to be afraid. I've spent time not being able to find work; not knowing how I would feed and clothe a child.
Attacking educators is a useless exercise. Not all of the issues surrounding student achievement rests with educators though we are told daily that it does. I believe moving from an agricultural community is hard work that must be equally divided among all of us. Having students who are willing to learn, parents who are eager to help and teachers who want to help deliver the best education to your children is part of what a community should work to do together.
Whatever your belief system, we need to pray as a community for answers to our questions regarding the economy; for peace to calm our fault-finding; and the desire to create a more understanding environment for our children.
But honestly, for you teachers/administrators who are whining about how unfair it is for Buffington to print your salary information, you need to get over yourself. YOU are PUBLIC SERVANTS if you like it or not, and the LAW says your salaries are OPEN RECORDS. If you don't like it, find some other type of job. If you don't like what Buffington prints, nobody is twisting your arm forcing you to buy or read his newspaper.
And if you want to whine about how "little" you make and how much more you could make, try living in the REAL (non-government paid) world, see if you can make ends meet on what "the rest of us" get paid.
I, for one, don't want to see your complaints about how unfair this is or how little you make, when YOUR salary is being paid by MY tax dollars and based on your salary alone, YOU MAKE MORE THAN MY ENTIRE FAMILY COMBINED.
NO, we do NOT feel sorry for you, and NO we do NOT think you make too little for what you do, especially when a lot of us can't even find jobs.
And like I said before, if you think things are so terrible for you...GET A JOB OUT IN THE REAL WORLD.
As for the junior in high school..do you have a job? Are you paying your teachers salaries? If so, then why do you think you shouldn't have the right to know where your tax dollars go? I understand that you have GREAT teachers, but those great teachers shouldn't mind the community knowing how much they make to do this. Also, Mr. Buffington's kids attend these schools, so he knows how good or bad these teachers are..he doesn't need to tag along with you to find out for himself.
Thank you Mr. Buffington for providing us with information about where our tax dollars go. Maybe these teachers will wake up and stop whining about not their salaries being published. Instead they should be greatful that they have such a great job in this economy.
How inappropriate is that? Should our teachers be allowed to go to their JOB and talk to our children this way about their parents? It's not the students business/problem that this went on.
We SHOULD know where our tax dollars go and I appreciate being able to read this.
https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/AboutBoard.aspx?S=4091
Jefferson's take place each second Thursday of the month at 4:00 pm at JHS.
I am not sure about Jackson County, but call the county office, they have to have meetings open to the public!