It's not all about money for Spotswood teachers
Report shows boro has lowest starting salaries in N.J.
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

"The culture is what keeps people there. It really is a very, very healthy environment. It makes it a nice district to be in." - Alan Bartlett President Board of Education

SPOTSWOOD - Though starting salaries for teachers in the borough are the lowest in New Jersey, the school system is able to find and hold on to quality faculty members who uphold and surpass standards, officials said.

"It's like 1,700 of your closest friends in this district," Board of Education President Alan Bartlett said. "I think the teachers appreciate that we do respect them. I think they feel a sense of pride and a sense of ownership, because they certainly don't do it for themoney."

According to the 2007 New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) report on teachers' salaries, Spotswood placed the lowest among public school districts, with a starting salary of $33,540 for teachers with a bachelor's degree. The district trails significantly behind Demarest Borough in Bergen County andWeymouth Township inAtlantic County, the second and third lowest-paying districts in the state. In fact, a Spotswood teacher starting with a master's degree would still make less than bachelor'sequipped instructors in either of those towns, at $35,215.

While some might wonder what attracts teachers to Spotswood's four-school,K-12 district, and what keeps themthere, district officials said there are reasons that go beyond pay. "The culture is what keeps people there," Bartlett said. "It really is a very, very healthy environment. Itmakes it a nice district to be in."

Bartlett acknowledged that some younger teachers do leave the district for economic reasons. For teachers who remain in Spotswood, salaries become more competitive with other districts after four or five years, he said.

According to school Business Administrator Tish Spinillo, the average teacher's salary in Spotswood is $52,500, and 44 percent of teachers are at the top of the 13-step salary guide. Twenty percent of the district's teachers have spent more than 20 years teaching there.

Superintendent of Schools John Krewer said teachers in Spotswood see value in things other than salaries.

"I thinkwe've got the best kids anywhere to teach," Krewer said. "We can say, without exception, thatwe have a safe, orderly learning environment."

Krewer went on to say that a three-year teacher induction program makes the district unique and attractive to new teachers, even thosewith prior experience. Consisting ofmonthly after-school training sessions, the program addresses teaching strategies and approaches that help new employees acclimate themselves to the district, as well as rise to the top of their game.

Teachers in the program are paired with a mentor, or buddy teacher, to guide them through the process, according to Krewer.

"You're not just put out there on your own," Krewer said.

Perhaps it is the induction program that fosters the sense of community in the district spoken of by veteran teacher Linda Walker.Areading specialist at the Schoenly School with 36 years under her belt in the Spotswood school system, Walker said she is eligible for retirement, but chooses to stay.

"Right from the start, I've never been on my own," Walker said. "The school is like a family. They've always been here to helpme."

According toWalker, administrators have always helped to promote the tight-knit nature of the district, listening closely to input offered by teachers as well as encouraging their growth by allowing them to attend workshops and seminars and giving them freedomin their teachingmethods.

"If people feel good about you, then you're willing to try a little harder,"Walker said.

Due largely to what is referred to as a vertical team approach that engages all departments, the district is able to meet and surpass both annual objectives and longrange goals, Krewer said. It also works with the College Board at Princeton.

Among some of the district's accomplishments was the expansion of its advanced placement program two years ago. Growing fromfour to 10 courses being offered, the program includes the usual academic subjects, as well as a fine and performing arts program,

Krewer said.Next year, anAPart history course is slated for addition to the program,

he said.

"Having these courses is a testament to our teachers," Krewer said.

According to Krewer, students begin preparation for the college track in sixth grade, in order to help ensure success. The full-day kindergarten program started four years ago in the district works to jump-start students even earlier, according to Walker, who tests students after completion of kindergarten.

"It's made a big difference," Walker said. "Every year, [reading] gets more and more accelerated. They come in better prepared."

According to Bartlett, more than 95 percent

of Spotswood's students go on to secondary education.

The success of the district can be attributed largely to a team effort among parents, staff and administrators, Krewer said.

Bartlett agreed, saying that administrators have an opendoor policy, and the Board of Education works closely with the teachers' union in order to negotiate fair compensation.He said the union is privy to all costs involved in the budget.

"There are no secrets there," Bartlett said. "We're going to try to continue to work with the teachers'union,who has been a terrific partner."

One tactic for attempting to ensure comparable salaries for teachers is to hire those with experience, who start higher on the scale, Bartlett said.Walker pointed out that while other districts may have higher starting salaries, some avoid hiring experienced teachers in order to savemoney.

Ron Panico, president of the Spotswood teachers' union, did not return calls for comment.

The budget challenge

When one looks at the history of the borough's school budgets, it becomes no wonder that its teachers' salaries lag behind. As Bartlett pointed out, borough voters have approved only one school budget in the last 20 years, and it was by a margin of just two votes.

"We've somehow been able to thrive in a declining budget environment," Bartlett said. Facilities maintenance is the area that takesmost of the brunt of budget cuts in the district, though other areas suffer aswell, he said.

"We don't have as many advanced placement classes aswewould like,"Bartlett said, adding that district officialswere forced to do away with the high school's automotive course two years ago.

Clubs and sports have also been trimmed down a bit due to a lack of financing, according to Bartlett.

"Our fear is that it will eventually work its way into the classroom," he said. "This board is totally firmin their resolve that they don't want to increase class size, especially in the lower grades."

According to Walker, though class sizes were larger last year, this year the number of students in each classroomhas decreased.

"One of the reasons our children aren't deficient here is because if we don't have it, our teachers buy it," Walker said. "We're doing this because we want to do it.We like doing it. That's why we call our school 'the little school with the big heart.' "

Bartlett said he is looking toward next yearwith some optimism, in light ofGov. Jon Corzine's newschool-funding formula.While he said it is unclear just how much of an increase the district will receive, the preliminary numbers are looking good.

For teachers who can look past the comparatively low starting salaries in the district, there are relativemonetary rewards to be found. For example,maximumsalaries in Spotswood for teachers with bachelor's degrees surpass those of Jamesburg by more than $7,500.As teachers in Spotswood reach maximum salaries, they find their compensation inching closer to those in a few other Middlesex County districts.

Still, the overall picture of both starting andmaximumsalaries for Spotswood teachers could lure those with finances as a priority to go elsewhere.

For Walker and others, however, that is not the case.

"We have the staff that are interested in the children and theirwelfare,"Walker said. "Of course I'd like to make more money, but I always say, 'I go to school, I don't go towork.' It's not like we're just employees, we're friends."