TEACHER PAY MUST COMPETE BUT BE REALISTIC

Salaries have been an issue in the Cape Girardeau School District. The Board of Education has agreed to seek a tax levy increase next year for pay increases to make staff salaries more competitive.

But Cape Girardeau is not alone in the salary crunch.

The Perryville School District also has been struggling with high turnover. About 30 of the district's 100 classified staff (non-teachers) left last year. Some 50 teachers, or about a fifth of the teaching staff, left the district last year.

Ironically, Perryville points to Cape Girardeau, Jackson and a dozen other schools with higher salaries as the reason teachers left. Many also went into the private sector.

The lament is echoed by Cape Girardeau school officials, who say their district offers the lowest salaries. The Cape district has seen a 41.5 percent staff turnover rate in the past three years.

The fact is that Perryville's base salary is higher than Cape Girardeau. But the salaries for long-time teachers with additional schooling seems higher in Cape Girardeau than Perryville. In reality, the villain in this salary debate may not be other school districts.

An economic boom in Missouri and the nation has pumped up the private sector. Unemployment is at record low levels. Corporate and business salaries are rising as a way to attract more qualified people. Many teachers -- and other professionals -- have answered the call.

Will districts be forced to raise salaries to attract and maintain qualified staffing? That depends.

Salaries among districts must be competitive, but they also must be realistic when compared to the local job market. Districts must look not only at beginning salaries, but what most staff members take home in their checks. How do these salaries and benefit packages compare with average compensation packages of other professionals in the community?

Teachers are paid by taxpayers who will have some say-so in compensation packages if tax increases are sought to pay the bill. For the most part, taxpayers are very supportive of local public school systems. But they want to ensure that teacher salaries remain in line with community standards.

It's just human nature that before taxpayers dole out more money, they'll take a hard look at how much money is in their own pocketbook.