Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:
Question: In the July 16 edition, you set forth teachers' salaries for Asheville and Buncombe County schools. What are their retirement benefits for various required years of service: pensions, health insurance, anything else? Do they make contributions towards their retirement benefits? If so, how much do they contribute and how much do the schools contribute? How many days (or hours) of service per year (or per school year) are required of a teacher? What are teachers' health insurance benefits while they are still working, and what, if anything, do they pay for their health insurance while they are still working? Has anyone calculated the total value of being an Asheville or Buncombe County teacher?
My answer: How about "priceless"? Shameless pandering to my teacher friends? Maybe, but really, can you put a price on spending your entire career with teenagers? Or 8-year-olds?
Real answer: The retirement program is statewide for teachers, so it's essentially the same for Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools. ACS spokeswoman Ashley-Michelle Thublin took the lead on this one, first noting that in ACS, a teaching contract is for 215 days, which for the 2020-21 school year includes 180 school days, 12 holidays, 10 annual leave days, nine required workdays and four optional workdays.
"Regarding benefits, 6% of a teacher's monthly salary goes into a retirement fund; plus, the state currently matches at 21.68%," Thublin said. "Called the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, a teacher becomes vested once they've completed a minimum of five years of membership service."
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That means they're eligible to apply for lifetime monthly retirement benefits based on the retirement formula in effect at the time of their retirement.
"Additionally, because Asheville City Schools participates in Death Benefits, should a staff member die while they are contributing to the Retirement System, a one-time payment based on the employee's salary will be paid to their designated beneficiary," Thublin said.
Employees have two health insurance plans they can buy:
"The 70/30 Traditional Plan costs $25 per month for employees, and the 80/20 Enhanced Plan costs $50 per month for employees," Thublin said, noting that adding dependents adds to the cost. "Flexible benefits, like dental, life vision, disability, cancer, etc., are also available for staff to purchase through a monthly charge."
At BCS, spokeswoman Stacia Harris said their plan is the same, although their work day plan varies slightly.
"Educators and many other employees work for 215 days," Harris said. "The 215-day calendar for the 2020-2021 school year includes 180 student days, 11 holidays, 10 annual leave days, and 12 professional days."
Question: You may hear from a lot of teachers about teachers and master's degree pay after your recent column on the subject. Teachers who have a master's degree do not automatically get paid for it in their salary. The pay is dependent on the Master's Degree being specifically geared to what they are currently teaching or their job assignment. The General Assembly also changed this system in 2013. Can you do a followup?
My answer: I was required to write on the board 1,000 times, "Teachers who have a master's degree do not automatically get paid for it in their salary." Hand cramp city, my friends.
Real answer: First of all, my apologies to those hard-working teachers out there! I obviously did not intend to make it look like you all get paid for the master's degree in all cases.
So, let's clear this up. This policy also is the same across school systems, and Thublin provided the answer by citing the North Carolina State Board of Education's Policy LICN-006.
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That policy states the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction "may authorize salary on the master’s level (or other appropriate) salary schedule for professional educators who hold master’s degrees or advanced degrees that do not lead to a professional educator license if the following criteria are met:
- 1. The master’s or higher degree is from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- 2. The master’s or higher degree is in an education or subject area directly related to an existing area of licensure and current teaching assignment or instructional support responsibilities.
- 3. The educator’s assignment for the majority (50% or more) of the school day is in the area for which the master’s or higher degree applies.
- 4. For teachers and student services personnel who complete a degree at the master's, six-year, or doctoral degree level, they must have either A. Completed at least one course toward that degree prior to Aug. 1, 2013; or, B. Qualified for the salary supplement pursuant to State Board of Education policy TCP-A-006/LICN-006, as it was in effect on June 30, 2013."
The policy notes the regional accrediting agencies are Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com
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July 28, 2020 at 04:00PM
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Answer Man: Teachers' retirement benefits? Health insurance? Master's degree revisited? - Citizen Times
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