Another Michigan School District, Another False Union ‘Teacher Pay Cuts’ Story

Clintondale Community Schools is in contract negotiations with the local arm of the statewide Michigan Education Association.

The Clintondale Education Association has put out a four-page informational sheet that stated, “Each teacher has given a total 30% wage concession since the 12/13 School Year.”

ForTheRecord says: Most Clintondale teachers experienced slight wage increases from 2013-14 to 2015-16, according to the official database of teachers who are in the state’s pension system for public school employees.

The increases vary for each individual based on seniority and academic credentials. For example, one teacher saw her salary increase from $40,869 in 2013-14 to $41,349 in 2015-16. That increase was typical of many in that salary range.

Another teacher at the top of the pay scale saw his salary remain at $82,324 in 2013-14 and 2015-16, which was also representative of many at the top of the pay scale.

So the reality is that teachers experienced modest gains, not cuts, much less a “30 percent wage concession” since the 2013-14 school year.

The Clintondale district’s enrollment fell from 3,240 students in 2005-06 to 3,025 students in 2015-16. Clintondale’s spending outpaced revenue from 2005-06 to 2015-16. That debt has been cleared now and the current school year is the first one in 10 years that the district has not had to borrow to make ends meet.