Pay rationale doesn’t hold up

As a teacher in a local high school, I was surprised by the quote in your article (“School administrators’ pay among highest in county,” Feb. 6) regarding the need for “competitive salaries to draw experienced people.” What justifies senior administrators earning almost three times what a comparably educated and experienced teacher makes?

Three reasons are usually given. First, that administrators are responsible for large amounts of money. This requires compensation commensurate with a CEO salary. Makes sense, except that the district I work for is once again forecasting a $10 million budget shortfall.

Second, administrators have oversight for districtwide educational programs. Unfortunately, most new programs consist of great ideas that don’t work, and teachers are left to clean up the mess.

Finally, we are told it takes a lot of work to make a district run efficiently. I invite any reader to visit the relaxed, friendly atmosphere of their district’s administration building. Then visit a high school classroom packed with 30 teenagers and one adult. The contrast will be obvious.

The business of education is not business, it’s education. That money could be better spent – hiring teachers, buying textbooks, replacing equipment. If the teachers’ pay scale is good enough for us, it’s good enough for the support staff.

Nate Edmons

Spokane