CLASS SIZE UP

BUSD’s average class size (29.2) in 2003-04 was higher than 20 of 23 Bay Area districts, despite the fact that we have a parcel tax whose primary purpose is to lower class size. Our class sizes have continued to grow this year and could increase in future years unless maximums for Grades K-12 are included in the BFT/BUSD contract. ED DATA

TEACHER SALARIES DOWN

BUSD’s teacher salaries last year were well below the median of 23 districts in two crucial areas – starting salaries and salaries for our most experienced teachers. CDE This will impact our ability to recruit new teachers and retain the quality teachers that we already have.

Teacher salaries are not a priority in Berkeley. Our certificated salaries are 45.3% of total money spent on students. BUSD ranks last out of 23 districts. In contrast, administrative salaries are above average as a percent of the district’s budget. ED DATA, CDE

Teachers in at least 12 local districts have received salary increases this school year, despite the State’s budget uncertainties. Berkeley teachers received no cost of living adjustment last year and this year; we have been offered none for next year. BUSD’s ability to recruit and retain teachers will further decline if, as expected, districts throughout California provide cost of living adjustments to their teachers for 2005-06, and Berkeley does not.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AVERAGE

Our district is in the average range in terms of the percent of money spent on benefits. ED DATA The District has proposed a “hard cap” on benefits. In effect, this will result in a cut in compensation for teachers, particularly significant for those with families.

NOTES: BFT used data from the California Department of Education (www.cde.ca.gov) and Ed Data (www.ed-data.K12.ca.us) to compare BUSD to all districts with at least 1,500 students in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco Counties. To avoid distortion of salary comparisons, we did not include the eight local districts where benefits were part
of the salary scale.

Researched and distributed by the Berkeley Federation of Teachers • March, 2005