AEA-ASD Contract Negotiations

These graphs contain incorrect information.  For example, the “seven year” graph actually shows ASD and Kenai teacher salaries after 7 years, but figures for Mat-Su, Fairbanks, and Juneau reflect teacher salaries after 8 years. 

These graphs are based on 2005-2006 figures. Click here to compare the other districts' 2006-2007 salaries to the ASD/AEA rejected tentative agreement.

This is incorrect.  While other districts have fewer steps, the gap outlined by the union is not accurate.  In the current contract ASD teachers start at “step 1.”  Mat-Su, Fairbanks and Juneau have a “step 0” in their salary schedule.  This adds a step that was not accounted for in the advertisement.  In Mat-Su it takes 14 years to reach the top step.  In Anchorage it currently takes 22 years.  This is an eight year difference.

These figures are from 2005-2006. The Mat-Su, Kenai, and Fairbanks employee health insurance contributions increased for this school year. Juneau's remained the same.

The rejected tentative agreement by AEA members would have lowered this year's premium contribution to $2,106 - a savings of $306 per member.

Based on the rejected ASD/AEA tentative agreement, Anchorage teachers' health insurance contributions would drop while other school districts' teacher premiums stay the same or increase.

The Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) published Alaska Teacher Supply and Demand, 2005 Update in April 2006.  This report outlines the turnover rate among districts and the reasons for turnover.  The Anchorage School District teacher turnover rate is THE LOWEST IN THE STATE at 10%.  Fairbanks and Mat-Su also have 10% turnover rates.  District rates range from 10% to 50%.

The ISER study found that 80% of Alaska teachers changing district do so for family or personal reasons.  Salary was a concern for 22% of those changing districts, though teachers changing between urban districts cited salary as a reason more often than rural educators.  Teachers leaving the profession altogether cited seeking better salary or benefits as a reason 21% of the time.  Family or personal reasons were cited 59% of the time; 50% cited choosing another career.

The Anchorage School District currently has five openings for regular classroom teaching positions for the current year.  Two additional openings require special skills or certification --- a librarian and a Tlingit speaking teacher.    Muldoon Middle School will open next fall; the district is currently advertising 7 teaching positions for that school --- the union is counting these positions when citing 58 openings.  ASD has approximately 30 additional openings in the areas of special education and related services (speech/language, school psychology, etc).  Due to a nationwide shortage of qualified candidates, most districts have openings in special education and related services.