Teachers, union urge MMSD to fix salary compression now, not study further
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Summary
A longtime teacher and the president of Madison Teachers, Inc. told the board that veteran educators have lost pay and retirement value to salary-step compression and urged immediate correction using existing funds rather than more study.
Two speakers at the March 16 public comment period told the Madison Metropolitan School District board that long-term teachers have been penalized by placement practices and that the district should fix salary compression immediately.
Chandra Kelsher Stegner, who described 29 years of teaching experience, said she was placed on a lower step when hired and has lost the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars in total compensation compared with peers. Using a consumer-price comparison of past pay scales, she said the district’s practice has left veteran teachers far behind current dollar equivalents and asked the board to correct placements on the pay scale.
Andrea Mizzarelli, president of Madison Teachers, Inc., told the board that failing to address compression now creates a “retirement crisis” for veteran staff, who may see permanently reduced pensions. Mizzarelli said the district has funding available in current compensation allocations and urged the board to use existing budgeted dollars rather than commissioning further study.
Board materials and later remarks in the meeting noted human-resources adjustments in some areas (Gothard said HR had addressed student services previously); however, speakers said broader fixes are still needed for veteran teachers in many job categories.
The board did not adopt a motion at the March 16 meeting to change compensation placement; the union and speakers urged follow-up during compensation and budget work group discussions.
