The average teacher salary in Huron Valley Schools was $62,439 in 2009, and teachers contribute nothing to the cost of their health insurance premiums. The district pays about 51 percent more than the average employer in the state for employee health insurance. Huron Valley also pays teachers who opt-out of health coverage $3,281 annually. The local union president is fully released from all teaching duties (without loss of pay or benefits) to conduct union business. These are among the highlights in the current collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the district and the local arm of the Michigan Education Association union.
About 67 percent of the district's $89 million operating budget goes towards paying employees covered by this contract, which covers teachers and a few other employee groups. Huron Valley enrolls about 10,200 students and employs approximately 600 teachers. The district spent $9,957 per pupil in 2009, an increase of about 1 percent from the previous school year.
The base salary for most Huron Valley teachers is between $48,622 and $76,285. Teachers are paid much like assembly line workers: how much an individual actually gets is determined by a single salary schedule that grants automatic pay raises based only on years on the job plus additional pedagogy credentials. Huron Valley teachers receive "step" increases of four to five percent for their first 12 years in the district. Teachers are granted "tenure" after four years on the job, and once tenured are evaluated once every three years, but neither these evaluations nor the performance of their students affect how much they are paid. After 15 years, teachers get another automatic 1 percent raise, and after 20 years, they receive a $500 salary boost.
The district provides medical insurance from the Michigan Education Special Services Association, an arm of the Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers union. The district paid $15,564 for each teacher on a family plan in 2008-2009. The state average for a family premium is $13,160, with employees paying 21 percent on average, or $2,800 of this amount. The Huron Valley plan features a $100 in-network deductible, co-pays of $10/$25/$50 for office visits, urgent care and the emergency room and a $10/$20 RX plan. The district also pays for dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with no cost to employees.
School employees receive a lifetime pension when they retire, and also expect to get lifetime post-retirement health benefits. Based on the state-run retirement system's formula, the starting pension for a Huron Valley teacher with 30 years experience and an average base salary of $72,046 (the final "step" on the salary schedule) would be $32,421. For most retirees, this amount increases by 3 percent every year. Teachers also get a severance package of between 4.5 to 14 percent of their final salary, and can cash in up to 80 unused sick days for $40 a piece upon retiring. An employee may begin collecting a pension upon reaching age of 55, or younger if he or she has 30 years of employment in public schools.
The union contract includes extra bonus pay for additional duties. Teachers can make $27.66 per hour for teaching summer school or for any other additional instructing. Department heads get an extra $932 to $1,632 per year. Any high school teacher takes on a sixth class can make an additional one-sixth of their salary (which works out to be about $10,400 based on the average salary). Mentoring young teachers pays $350 per mentee.
The district also pays out stipends for coaching and participating in other extracurricular activities, such as band, drama, student clubs and many others. Aside from the more than 50 different athletic-related positions that pay between $677 and $7,011 annually, there are more than 30 different extracurricular positions that pay between $417 and $5,008 each year.
All teachers are allotted 10 sick days per year, and can accumulate 180 of them. The district allows for 2 personal days and 5 bereavement days as well. Teachers may take unpaid leaves for child care, personal illness, the Peace Corps, government service and others. Upon returning from leave, teachers are guaranteed the opportunity to return to the same or an equivalent teaching position.
Working hours and conditions are also covered in the contract. It defines the "work year" as 185 and one-half days. Teachers are contractually obligated to be at school for 7 hours per day, which works out to a total work year of 1,299 hours. The national average for all occupations is 1,792. Elementary teachers may not instruct students for more than 5 hours and 21 minutes per day, nor may they be required to collect lunch or milk money.
A fully detailed analysis can be found below.
Salary Schedule
- Base salaries are determined strictly by "steps," which use a matrix of years experience and graduate credit hours and degrees.
- There of 13 "steps" on the schedule, meaning teachers get automatic 4 to 5 percent pay raises for their first 12 years in the district.
- In addition to step increases, teachers with more than 15 years experience get a 1 percent raise and those with 20 years get an additional $500 salary boost.
- 57 percent of teachers have graduate degrees and 72 percent have more than 5 years experience, meaning the vast majority of teachers' base salary is between $48,622 and $76,285.
- The Michigan Department of Education reported the average teacher salary in Huron Valley in 2008-09 was $62,439.
Fringe Benefits
- The bulk of Huron Valley teachers enroll in the district's medical insurance family that cost $15,564 per teacher in 2008-09.
- Teachers contribute nothing per month to the cost of this premium.
- The average family premium for a health plan in Michigan cost $13,160 in 2009, with employees contributing 21 percent ($2,800) of those costs.
- The most used plan (MESSA Choices) includes $100/$200 annual deductibles, co-pays of $10 for office visit, $25 for urgent care and $50 for the emergency room and a $10/$20 RX plan.
- Each teacher who does not enroll in a medical insurance plan gets $3,281 annually.
- The district also provides at no cost to teachers dental, vision, life ($45,000) and long-term disability insurance (2 years).
Pension and Retirement Benefits
- Every teacher participates in the state-run Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System, a defined-benefit lifetime pension system
- Pension calculation: highest 3-year average compensation X 1.5 percent X years of service
- After 55, subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance for life (employees never contribute more than 18 percent of premiums)
- Annual pension based on 30 years experience in Huron Valley with base salary of $72,046 (final M.A. step): $32,421 (this amount increases by 3 percent every year)
- Severance pay: Teachers get between 4.5 to 14 percent of their final salary, depending on the number of years they've been employed in the district.
- Retiring teachers can also cash in a maximum of 80 unused sick days for $40 a piece.
Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification
- Mentoring younger teachers: $350 per mentee
- Drivers education teacher: $21 per hour
- Summer School: $27.66 per hour
- Additional teaching duty: $27.66 per hour
- Curriculum/Staff development: $26.06 per hour
- High school department heads: $932-$1,632
- Middle school curriculum coordinator: $288
- Teaching beyond maximum class load: one-sixth of salary ($10,406, based on average teacher salary)
- Overnight camp trips
- 5-day trips: $751
- 3-day trips: $376
Work Schedule/Environment
-
Contractual year: 185.5 days
- 178 student instruction days
- Maximum contractual weekly hours: 35
- Duty-free lunch period: 30 minutes
-
Daily instructional time:
- Elementary: 5 hours, 21 minutes
- Middle and high school: 5 class periods
-
Weekly preparation time:
- Elementary: 225 minutes
- Middle and high school: 5 class periods
- Elementary teachers will not be required to supervise lunch periods.
- No regularly assigned teacher may be required to substitute for another teacher.
-
Parent-teacher conferences:
- Teachers receive compensatory time
- Maximum of 7 hours
- Teachers will not be responsible for the collection of lunch or milk money.
-
Class size limitations:
- K: 28
- 1st Grade: 29
- 2nd Grade: 30
- 3rd-5th Grades: 31
Leave Time/Sick Days
- Union president is released full-time from teaching duties to conduct union business.
- Officers and representatives of union may be granted additional leaves of absence upon the approval of the superintendent.
- Sick days: 10
- Religious holiday use: 3 sick days
- Personal business days: 2 days.
- Bereavement days: 5
- Sabbatical leave: One-half pay for one full year
- Unpaid leave:
- Maternity
- Child care
- Medical
- Professional
- Government service
- Peace Corps
- Job Corps
- Exchange teacher program
- Any other district-approved purpose
Extracurricular Activities Compensation (depends on years of experience)
|
Position |
Minimum |
Maximum |
|
High School Building Athletic Coordinator |
$ 5,008 |
$ 7,011 |
|
Varsity Football |
$ 4,060 |
$ 6,009 |
|
Varsity Basketball |
$ 4,060 |
$ 6,009 |
|
Track |
$ 3,045 |
$ 4,507 |
|
Wrestling |
$ 3,045 |
$ 4,507 |
|
Baseball |
$ 3,045 |
$ 4,507 |
|
Softball |
$ 3,045 |
$ 4,507 |
|
Hockey |
$ 3,045 |
$ 4,507 |
|
Volleyball |
$ 3,045 |
$ 4,507 |
|
Asst. Varsity Football |
$ 2,706 |
$ 4,006 |
|
Asst. Varsity Basketball |
$ 2,706 |
$ 4,006 |
|
JV Football |
$ 2,706 |
$ 4,006 |
|
JV Basketball |
$ 2,706 |
$ 4,006 |
|
Ninth Grade Football |
$ 2,368 |
$ 3,505 |
|
Ninth Grade Basketball |
$ 2,368 |
$ 3,505 |
|
Cross Country |
$ 2,368 |
$ 3,505 |
|
Golf |
$ 2,368 |
$ 3,505 |
|
Tennis |
$ 2,368 |
$ 3,505 |
|
Skiing |
$ 2,368 |
$ 3,505 |
|
Soccer |
$ 2,368 |
$ 3,505 |
|
Middle School Building Athletic Coordinator |
$ 2,199 |
$ 3,255 |
|
Asst. Track |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Asst. Wrestling |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Asst. Baseball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Asst. Softball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Asst. Hockey |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Asst. Volleyball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Ninth Grade Volleyball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Eighth Grade Football |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Eighth Grade Basketball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Seventh Grade Football |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Seventh Grade Basketball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Middle School Baseball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Middle School Softball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Middle School Wrestling |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Middle School Track |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Middle School Volleyball |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Asst. JV Football |
$ 1,861 |
$ 2,754 |
|
Asst. JV Basketball |
$ 1,861 |
$ 2,754 |
|
Asst. Ninth Grade Football |
$ 1,861 |
$ 2,754 |
|
Asst. Ninth Grade Basketball |
$ 1,861 |
$ 2,754 |
|
Varsity Cheerleaders (per season) |
$ 1,353 |
$ 2,003 |
|
Asst. Eighth Grade Football |
$ 1,353 |
$ 2,003 |
|
Asst. Seventh Grade Football |
$ 1,353 |
$ 2,003 |
|
Asst. Middle School Baseball |
$ 1,353 |
$ 2,003 |
|
Asst. Middle School Softball |
$ 1,353 |
$ 2,003 |
|
Asst. Middle School Wrestling |
$ 1,353 |
$ 2,003 |
|
Asst. Middle School Track |
$ 1,353 |
$ 2,003 |
|
JV Cheerleaders (per season) |
$ 1,015 |
$ 1,502 |
|
Ninth Grade Cheerleaders (per season) |
$ 1,015 |
$ 1,502 |
|
Middle School Golf |
$ 1,015 |
$ 1,502 |
|
Asst. Middle School Volleyball |
$ 677 |
$ 1,002 |
|
Eighth Grade Cheerleaders (per season) |
$ 677 |
$ 1,002 |
|
Seventh Grade Cheerleaders (per season) |
$ 677 |
$ 1,002 |
|
High School Activities |
||
|
Band |
$ 3,383 |
$ 5,008 |
|
Chorus |
$ 2,706 |
$ 4,006 |
|
Drama |
$ 2,706 |
$ 4,006 |
|
Debate |
$ 1,860 |
$ 1,860 |
|
Forensics |
$ 1,283 |
$ 1,283 |
|
Yearbook |
$ 1,860 |
$ 1,860 |
|
Newspaper |
$ 1,471 |
$ 1,471 |
|
Literary magazine |
$ 753 |
$ 753 |
|
Senior class advisor |
$ 1,616 |
$ 1,616 |
|
Junior class advisor |
$ 833 |
$ 833 |
|
Sophomore class advisor |
$ 833 |
$ 833 |
|
Freshmen class advisor |
$ 833 |
$ 833 |
|
Intramurals |
$ 1,138 |
$ 1,138 |
|
Cooperative Education Coordinator |
$ 210 |
$ 210 |
|
Social Studies Olympiad |
$ 1,602 |
$ 1,602 |
|
Science Olympiad |
$ 1,602 |
$ 1,602 |
|
Middle School Activities |
||
|
Band |
$ 2,030 |
$ 3,005 |
|
Chorus |
$ 1,015 |
$ 1,502 |
|
Drama |
$ 520 |
$ 520 |
|
Newspaper |
$ 580 |
$ 580 |
|
Yearbook |
$ 1,165 |
$ 1,165 |
|
Literary magazine |
$ 455 |
$ 455 |
|
Intramurals |
$ 1,138 |
$ 1,138 |
|
Science Olympiad |
$ 1,283 |
$ 1,283 |
|
Future Problem Solvers |
$ 1,283 |
$ 1,283 |
|
Curriculum Coordinator |
$ 288 |
$ 288 |
|
Activities Director |
$ 1,138 |
$ 1,138 |
|
Elementary Activities |
||
|
Science Olympiad Coordinator |
$ 906 |
$ 906 |
|
Safety Patrol |
$ 417 |
$ 417 |
|
Chorus |
$ 480 |
$ 480 |
|
Drama |
$ 480 |
$ 480 |
|
Intramurals |
$ 1,138 |
$ 1,138 |
~~~~~
See also:
Port Huron Teacher Contract: Summary and Analysis
Utica Teacher Contract: Summary and Analysis
Saline Teacher Contract: Summary and Analysis
Walled Lake Teacher Contract Analysis
East Lansing Schools Union Contract
Wayne-Westland Teacher Contract: Summary and Analysis
Traverse City Teacher Contract: Summary and Analysis
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.