LETTER: Titling at Windmills
Having taught for 25 years, I am now without children living at home and in need of finding a different place to work: Hawai’i seems to be the perfect answer.
Unfortunately, I cannot. I cannot afford the horrific pay cut in potential salary. Please, allow me to explain.
School Districts limit the total number of years of experience when calculating the potential salary of a prospective Teacher. Hawai’i has set a limit of six years.
Can you name one other profession that artificially limits the number of years of experience when determining the starting salary of a new employee? Lawyers? Plumbers? Dentists? Public School Administrators? No. None of these do. None.
After looking into the cost of leasing a home for the school year, I found that the lowest cost of a 1,200 square foot home would be $2,200/month. Currently, I am spending less than $1,100 for a 1,600 square foot home.
And, that does not consider the cost of food, utilities, etc.!
I would L-O-V-E to live and work in Hawai’i. Who wouldn’t?
But not at the expense of my wife and I not being able to fully enjoy the life that Hawai’i offers. I have worked for 25 years in a profession that I love. I deserve to be paid a living wage – not where my wife also is forced to work so we can pay the bills.
Please, Department of Education, take a hard look at the cost of living in Hawai’i.
Stop the revolving door of the “one year wonders”. It costs the District far more to continually recruit than to remove the salary limitation. Students will benefit by having Teachers with more experience.
Dr. Jeff Jorgenson
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