Letter to the Editor: Washington Elementary STEM Magnet School Teachers – Angry Over PUSD’s Unfair Compensation for Teachers

Teachers at Washington Elementary STEM Magnet school are angry over PUSD’s unfair compensation for teachers. Over the past eight years, Pasadena teachers have received a 3% pay raise, yet, in terms of salary rank, PUSD teachers are in the lowest 10% among unified school districts in Los Angeles County.

Pasadena teachers are not asking for more than fair compensation. We deserve the raise we are requesting. Even if the District were to agree with the requested increase, Pasadena teachers would continue to be among the lowest paid teachers in Los Angeles County.

Instead of agreeing to wages comparable with those received by teachers less than 10 miles from Pasadena, the District proposed a meager 3% salary schedule increase and a 1.3% one-time off schedule payment, leaving it’s teachers in the shallow end of the compensation pool.

This is the same district that recently awarded administrators a 3% salary increase retroactive to July 2015. Where are their priorities? Where are yours?

Sincerely,