Tenure, crowds and absent teachers: A roundup

This week has been so busy that I'm spilling into the weekend to catch up:

Carlson

* Financial planner and insurance agent Dennis Carlson says he proctored state exams at a high school and was struck by the confusion over the Senate's proposed pay plan,  which asks teachers to trade tenure for raises.  He wrote this blog post calculating the value of what teachers are getting in return for surrendering their job protection,  ranging from $18,900 for a teacher with 25 years' experience to $130,500 for a five-year teacher.

* Bolyn McClung,  a regular at Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board meetings,  warns that anyone planning to attend Wednesday's public hearing on the Mecklenburg County budget had better line up early to get through the Government Center's security screening.

"Each person now takes about 30 seconds,"  McClung wrote in an email to county commissioners and media. "An example of the zealousness is that the next person in line cannot go through the metal detector until the first person’s personal possessions in the little white basket have been meticulously inspected.  Big purses, of which there surely will be a lot, are going to be an issue."

He's right.  The line was long and slow at the school board's public hearing,  and I barely squeezed in to cover the meeting.  The screeners have been known to unzip the change compartment on my wallet and peer at my pennies,  so be prepared and don't bring pocket knives or anything else that resembles a weapon.

* Finally, retired educator and substitute teacher Jim Thomas sent these thoughts after reading about a study on teacher absences (I've edited for length):

Part of the problem is teachers take "mental health days" at will. Teachers who know they won't be back the next year start taking their "sick leave" and personal leave days, some to hunt for a new job.  First, Fridays seemed to be the day of choice. Then Mondays became popular.

Many times there are not enough subs. Teachers have to cover the absent teachers using their planning periods.  My wife, a high school teacher, went many weeks without having a planning period.  I have to admit that there are legitimate reasons for being out of school, like jury duty,  sickness,  child sickness and other things that can't be done during the school day.  But when teachers take a day off to have their dog groomed,  due to a hangover, get their nails done, or go to the beach, that hurts the entire educational process.  Veteran teachers who are conscientious can tell when a person isn't coming back to teach the next year before it's announced.   And, of course, the high absenteeism hurts school morale.

Teachers are tired and overwhelmed by unnecessary paperwork, regulations, and countless meetings.  Teachers are blamed for students' lack of performance.  Student behavior is considered the teacher's fault and not the student or his family.  In other words, the absenteeism is a symptom of a much bigger societal problem and the best scapegoat is the teacher.

One doesn't need a blue-ribbon report to tell what the problems in schools are.  I don't know many occupations where blame is so personal to a specific position like a teacher.  Policeman and fireman are often said to have stressful jobs but they aren't blamed for starting the fires or causing criminal activities.  It's only natural to cope the only way one can and that is sometimes get away from it.  

City, county have more high-paid staff than CMS

If you want to make a six-figure salary working for local government,  your odds are better with the city of Charlotte or Mecklenburg County than with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

According to the updated city payroll posted late last week,  Charlotte currently has 162 people earning $100,000 or more,  with six topping $200,000.  With a work force of 6,649,  that means 2.4 percent of employees have cracked the six-figure mark.

Mecklenburg County has 4,518 people on its current payroll,  with 93 hitting the $100,000 mark (three above $200,000).  That's about 2 percent at six figures.

The CMS payroll also shows 93 people making $100,000 or more in total compensation.  But since two principals hit that mark with bonuses,  the more accurate comparison might be 91 with six-figure salaries.  Either way,  it comes to about half a percent of the 18,665 employees.

I'm not trying to make a case that anyone deserves a raise or a cut.  I've just been looking at these numbers for several years,  driven partly by persistent questions about whether CMS spends too much on top administrators.  Sometimes those questions come from Mecklenburg County commissioners, who provide money for administrative salaries.

Superintendent Heath Morrison has the highest salary among the three local bodies, at $288,000 a year. But his inner circle quickly drops,  with Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark next at $190,000.

Jean Melvin,  medical director for MeckLINK,  is the highest-paid person in the county database at $260,000 a year,  followed by County Manager Harry Jones at just over $246,000.  Jones is supported by three general managers,  earning from $187,000 to $203,000.

Ron Carlee,  the new city manager,  is listed at $245,000,  with Deputy City Manager Ronald Kimble at $212,000.

On the opposite end of the pay scale,  it's also less lucrative to serve on the school board than the other governing bodies.  County commissioners' chair Pat Cotham is listed at $29,665 a year,  with other commissioners at $23,732.

The school board chair gets $16,386  (oddly,  it's Ericka Ellis-Stewart, the 2012 chair,  who's listed in that post now)  while other members get $12,605.

City council members aren't listed in the payroll,  but best I can tell from the city web site,  the mayor gets $22,000 with $14,800 in expense and auto allowances,  while council members get $17,000 in pay and $9,800 in allowances.