2 in 5 Greendale Teachers Cite Unfair Pay: District Survey

About two in every five Greendale teachers, some of the highest-paid in the region, feel that they are unfairly compensated for their work, according to a district-wide survey administered earlier this year.

But according to district officials, these results may not reflect the most recent pay increase. During the survey period this spring, teachers and officials agreed on a 3 percent pay increase which may not be factored into the survey responses.

"Teachers may not have been aware of what was coming at the time of the survey," said Julie Grotophorst, director of human resources for Greendale School District.

Superintendent John Tharp pointed to teachers' reported job satisfaction as the most telling insight from the survey. Nearly all of the respondents reported that they are "proud" of the district and "consider it a good place to work."

"We support our teachers, and we value their work," Tharp said. "The community places high importance on education with their children, as the students come to school prepared to learn."

For Grotophorst, the survey's response rate speaks to teachers' "engagement" in their work, as 254 of about 300 staff members filled out the survey voluntarily.

One area of improvement indicated by the survey, though, is "equitable student access to technology." On a five-point scale, teachers' confidence in equitable access came in at 2.51.

Grotophorst said there are some teaching initiatives that require students to bring technology from home, technology that not all families can afford. She said the district will look into how it could offset that inequality as part of its Get Connected technology initiative.

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