SPARLAND – Midland teachers and staff are considering leaving the district at an alarming rate, with 85% of teachers saying they’ve looked for other jobs because their salaries are too low, they face a lack of respect in the workplace and are dealing with an ever increasing workload.
This data is from a recent Midland Education Association (MEA) survey of Midland Community Unit School District 7 (CUSD 7) teachers and licensed staff. The survey also shows many teachers who are working two or three additional jobs to make ends meet for their families.
Midland teachers are among the lowest paid in the entire central Illinois region, and as a result, turnover is incredibly high. Each year, the Midland school district loses one out of four teachers and then struggles to fill those positions. Nearly every neighboring district pays more and offers better insurance, including Putnam, Washburn and Henry.
“Many of our teachers went to school in the district. We live in the community. We send our own children to school here. Investing in us is an investment in our community. We know strong students mean strong schools and a strong community,” MEA president Meredith Hattan said.
MEA represents the 49 dedicated teachers and licensed staff who serve the more than 650 students who attend school in CUSD 7.
CUSD 7 and MEA are currently negotiating a new contract that could address the wage disparities. The two parties have been bargaining since February. After several sessions at the table, the board of education suggested entering federal mediation. MEA’s current contract expires on June 30, which means, there is not a new contract in place for the start of the school year.
“We know the district has the money to meet our requests without raising taxes. We’re not asking to be the highest-paid teachers. In fact, we’re some of the lowest-paid teachers in the entire state. We’re just asking for a competitive salary so we can attract and retain the best teachers for our students,” Hattan said.
The contract discussions are not just focused on salary. CUSD 7’s contribution for employee health insurance also lags behind most neighboring districts, as do stipends and coaching payments.
At this time, there are no bargaining sessions scheduled. The next CUSD 7 board meeting is scheduled for Wed., June 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Midland Elementary School.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
