A Roadmap for Improving Indiana Teacher Compensation: Final Report of the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission, December 2020

"While there are varying opinions among the public about whether there is a 'teacher shortage,' the data is clear: Indiana has significant challenges in attracting and retaining qualified teachers." (p3)

(p4)

(p4)

"Indiana has had the lowest teacher salary growth in the nation over the last two decades." (p4)

"Five years after graduating from college, education majors in Indiana earn 11 percent less than the average salary earned by all Hoosier public college graduates....The gaps persist across a multitude of sectors, even when controlling for the number of days worked." (p5)

"The Cost of Competitive Compensation" concludes that this has been a problem getting worse for 20 years and will take new revenue sources and acknowledge the political unlikeliness in the coming year due to the hurdles caused by the pandemic. (p5)

"Statutory limits on property tax increases pose an obstacle in increasing local education funding." (p7) The limits must be reversed; the caps have been devastating

Recommendation 1: "Join the state’s pharmacy benefit plan (estimated $25 million in annual savings to school corporations)" Love this

Recommendation 2: "Limit working spouses’ participation in district health care plans (estimated $50 million in annual savings for school corporations)" Hate this

Recommendation 3: "Exclude Medicare-eligible retirees from healthcare plans" Medium about this

Recommendation 4: "Increase utilization of centralized procurement" Love this

Recommendation 5: "Join a liability risk pool" Love this

Recommendation 6: "Right-size district teacher and staff ratios where appropriate" Uncertain about this, the sentiment of looking at your staffing needs critically are good but the commission suggests strategically expanding virtual instruction to cut costs in this way (not good)

Recommendation 6: "Share services with other districts and external organization" I worry about this as it has had the effect of everyone operating on a shoestring of time, money, and resources.

It has been a headache since my district strategically staggered start times partially to save money...maybe with moderation but I'm concerned about the potential effects of this recommendation

Recommendation 8: "Implement additional best practices" NO, this section promotes the privatization of essential school services such as food prep and custodial. This is bad for workers, Hoosiers, and school districts.

This section also seems to imply that shifting health car options (aka crappier private emloyer-provided insurance options). We can't raise salary but decreasing benefits. This misses the point.

Recommendation 9: "Pass an operating referendum (estimated $80 million in additional annual funding)" Fine

Recommendation 10: "Increase Medicaid reimbursement claims" Love this

Recommendation 11: "Increase private contributions through foundations" No, public schools should be fully funded with public funds.

Recommendation 12: "Award higher salaries to teachers with high-need students and in teacher shortage subject areas" This has potential, especially if it is directed toward lower-income school communities within districts where attracting talent is most challenging.

Recommendation 13: "Improve flexibility for teachers to control their individual compensation through career ladder systems" On the fence, this reminds me of the Opportunity Culture model utilized in my district which has mixed results but has potential

Intermission