For the last six years, the posting of salaries from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been accompanied by reader queries about a similar database for nearby districts. Now we've got the 2013 payroll data for Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston, Hickory, Iredell-Statesville, Lincoln, Mooresville City and Union schools.
Thanks to database reporter Gavin Off for collecting this information. We tried it last year but ran into accuracy problems when one district calculated 10-month salaries as 12 months, inflating the annual pay for many employees. That's ironed out now, but if you see any new issues, contact Gavin at goff@charlotteobserver.com.
Because this database includes several districts, there's not a drop-down menu of schools and departments. If you're having trouble finding a listing you're looking for, I'd suggest searching the district first and scanning to see how things are labeled.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Salaries available for eight more school districts
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28 comments:
What's the big deal about knowing how much money your friends and neighbors make? Seems like an invasion of privacy to me. Surprised the Observer hasn't been taken to court over this.
They are all public employees, and their pay is public information. All they are doing here is compiling that information into one database that can be easily search.
Who cares what the neighboring counties pay their employees? Their cost of living is less along with their classroom sizes. What does CMS pay and what level of education do they provide is the question. We know the other counties do a better job and pay more. As a CMS parent I see great teachers leave every year to go to those other districts. Seems they value great educators more? Maybe Heath should do a study on that.
Oh good! Now everyone can see what I mean when I say my pay is too high and the raises keep rolling in. 30800 holding steady after 5 years in the "most important job in the world". It truly is the great equalizer.
Go ahead. Look at my salary. See why I have 2 part time jobs even though I have 10 years experience in teaching (CMS,Iredell,now Union). It's frustrating to see this database in lieu of the magnitude of what we do and what we are responsible for on a daily basis. I hope State legislators see this database to re-educate themselves as to why and how we teachers have been so devalued.
10:27 AM
Consider the source.
Doss is low class.
Where are the Observer salaries including hers?
Hippo
Ann,
This is irresponsible journalism plain and simple. I agree that the public should know what teachers are paid for the simple fact that their salaries are drawn from public funds; however CMS and most other districts include the current teachers’ pay scale on their websites. As a member of the tax paying private sector I can see how much a teacher with "X" amount of years makes without accessing their name in a database. You claim to be an advocate for education however this is disrespectful to the people who educate our children. Instead of taking the easy way out of writing an article, how about performing some research and providing statistical analysis on which groups (admin, teachers, assistants, etc.)are absorbing which portion of the overall payroll and then compare that data to other large school systems. That would actually qualify you as a journalist instead of the typical embarrassment that is your writing.
I have no problem with the public seeing how much we make as teachers. I want everybody to see how little I make while they look me up.
2:52, the database is just that -- raw data. I just posted a story looking at some of what it means, but providing everyone with access means you're not limited to my take on it.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/19/3992500/higher-pay-bigger-teacher-bonuses.html
What was the purpose in publishing public employee's salaries? Was there a point to this? Is it to show how little the majority of teachers are paid? Is it to convince our legislators to pay us more?
While I agree and understand that as public school employees, our salaries and work locations are accessible and in a public database. However, who actually thinks of looking this up? I never have. But now that's published and given a link, people are now much more likely to want to check it out.
I agree- I do feel like it's an invasion of privacy. No one needs to see what my salary is. I am proud to see my name and "teacher" next to it, but quite honestly, it's an embarrassment to see what the State of NC thinks I'm worth by putting my salary next to my name.
In a time when teachers are made to feel devalued, this was not the time to publish this article.
Public money is obviously used to pay all public employees and this allows access to their salaries along with other personal information. In the current climate, those employees deserve more privacy than they are afforded by state law. This practice leads many to the private sector whereas their professional gift may be in teaching or other public service areas. Where is the database I may access to look at the salaries and incomes of those who construct those laws? Oh, that one doesn't exist does it? I'm sure it will just as soon as we have access to one containing the salaries of all Observer employees.
North Carolina currently ranks 46 out of 50 states in average teacher pay. This is certainly nothing to be proud of for a state that wants to promote itself as a progressive leader. Teachers deserve better pay, and quite frankly it's an embarrassment for their informatiom to be published. Most people don't enter the field for the pay (see 46 out of 50), and those who do probably don't last long. Most teachers, like many government employees, enter the profession as a calling and continue to strive for excellence even if they are not shown appreciation for their efforts.
4:57 PM
Nice try. Now where is your salary raw data?
Matter fact we want everyone's salary employed by McClatchy Media Corp out of Sacramento California who owns the CO and include all the janitors and scrubs who write sports columns. Fair is fair.
CMS AP
The data base is unclear because it makes it look like the supplement is in addition to the salary. The salary includes the supplement. This is embarrassing. When I was growing up, my parents taught me that it was rude to ask the amount of someone's pay. This disgusts me.
This is insulting and degrading. Yes, public school employees' salaries are public information. So if someone wants to know, they can ask. But posting it bluntly for the world to have immediate access? That's entertainment. Teachers are bashed enough with constant paycuts, declining benefits, increased workload... There is no journalism here. Where is the list with your salary? Shame on you.
My favorite part of this exposure every few years is the potential for some kid to make a comment...maybe not even meant rudely after he looks up his teacher's salary. Oh wait...that actually happened...TODAY.
Thanks, Ann!
I'm a teacher, and even though it's good people realize how our salaries are frozen, and how they aren't coherent with the amount of work we have, in addition to the little respect we get from our students; I want my privacy! A student in detention was making comments the other day how much his parents made in comparison to a teacher's salary; and I just told him "with more reason you should respect your teacher, because if she's in that classroom is not for the money, that's for sure!" Unfortunately some people teach their children how little a teacher matters, it's like the respect towards us depends on how much we make.
Ann,
I hope you have read the comments on this board. While I realize you have attempted to justify your actions, it is obvious that both educators and the community as a whole are disgusted.
When I come home at night I always want to be able to look at my family and say I acted morally and with the best interest of my community in mind. Ann, when you see your family tonight please let them know that you completely lack integrity and respect for others.
To the management at the Observer; please consider replacing Ann with someone who is above tabloid journalism.
So Ann,
How much do you make? I don't care how much my fellow educators make, I doubt my parents care how much I make, I doubt my kids care how much I make, yet you felt it important enough to include me in your fantastic article. Dang way to make me feel special.
Signed,
One More Teacher You Just Pissed Off
Geez everybody, give Ann a break. As a lifelong republican and teacher who is absolutely embarressed by Gov Pat, Art Pope, and the legislature. They certainly have opened my eyes and hopefully yours on how they feel about public education with their actions. Just look at what is currently being voted on in the state house and senate. It's the republicans who in most cases want these stats out to reveal all the waste in government. Well I can tell you it isn't in public education.
When I see 45 of the 66 certified staff at my school (a very high performing school) make less than $40,000 it frankly is embarressing to this state. We have good people who want to stay in this great profession, but simply are looking for a way out due to people like Art Pope, Pat, and Sen. Berger. This embarressment called teacher pay in NC needs to get all of the publicity it can. I assure you the republicans have no desire to improve teacher pay and if we let them they will get away with what they are currently doing.
So...what you are saying is that you trolled the salaries of your colleagues?
Geez, this has been in the paper every year for nearly a decade. Where have you folks been? It doesn't make any difference to the General Assembly no matter which denomination is in power. It didn't make any difference back in the eighties when the steps were frozen. It didn't make any difference when my starting salary in NC was $7,000. It didn't make any difference when I retired because the replacements are cheaper. You are not valued, you are not respected, and most importantly, like the private sector, you need to be eliminated or replaced by technology. If you want to make a political and moral statement in this future educational cesspool, get a student off their phone for a few minutes to design a new logo for your Scarlet Letter...............
46th
Wear it proudly.
The General Assembly does.
AA = Answers Ann
Chief Information
Chief Communication
= Over $300,000
Are you jealous?
Find Answers Ann !
CMS
Stick that morale survey where the sun doesnt shine !
What a corrupt system. Some teachers and employees getting $18,000 bonuses! What a slap in the face to those not in Title I schools and work just as hard if not harder. Principals giving these types of bonuses?!!?
Investigate
I have been in this district a little over 20 years. That article makes me want to LEAVE !!!!!!!!!
I know for a fact some of this data is not accurate. Some people are not in the data base. Some amounts are incorrect.
What would be more helpful than a granular exposure of individuals' paychecks would be an analysis of this data in conjunction with other key data such as graduation rates, cost of operations, etc. Outrage without understanding diminishes the ability to thoughtfully seek better solutions.
10:27, please email Gavin to tell him about inaccuracies. In past years I've had to straighten out errors in the CMS listings. It wouldn't surprise me if there are some problems in the others, but we have to know what to look at.
Nationwide directory of links to federal, state, county and municipal government salary and employee name databases:
http://pibuzz.com/government-employees/
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