As a former teacher in the Rugby Public School system, I was pleased to read in the Pierce County Tribune about the salary increases that the teachers in the RPS system will receive over the next two years.

According to the North Dakota Education Association, North Dakota teachers are the 50th lowest paid teachers in the US. Rugby teachers’ salaries are ranked 112 out of 187 schools in North Dakota. The average teacher’s salary in Rugby is $33,730, and the state average teacher’s salary is $41,254. This is based on 2008-09 data as reported to the ND Department of Public Instruction. As more veteran teachers retire or move to other districts, the average teachers’ salary will decrease, since new teachers can be hired at lower beginning salaries.

Beginning in the 2009-10 school year a teacher in the RPS system will receive a raise of $3000 in year one and $2500 in year two of the two-year contract. They will also receive their $700 career step that had been frozen last year. In addition, a teacher receives a health care benefit of $389.90 per month to cover a single health insurance policy. Thanks should be extended to our state legislators for supporting an increase in state funding for salaries for teachers. This support eliminates the need for more local support, in the form of taxes, for salaries.

This week I read in the Pierce County Tribune the salary increases for the administration in the RPS system. When I saw the numbers, I decided to do a little research. Administrators receive a health care benefit of $1013.10 per month for a full family health insurance policy.

Beginning in the 2009-10 school year the elementary principal will receive a raise of $7049. The high school principal will receive a raise of $6681. Both principals have one-year contracts. The superintendent will receive a raise of $12645 in year one and $7500 in year two of the two-year contract. The RPS top administrator’s salary was ranked 65 out of 120 Superintendent of Schools positions in North Dakota. This ranking is 2007-08 data as reported to ND Department of Public Instruction.

I agree that administrators deserve salary increases, but I question the level of those increases approved by the school board.

Stevenson is a Rugby resident.