It’s teacher gift time – and last Monday, West Chester educators got an early one – a mid-contract pay increase. It came after WCASD Human Resources Director Dr. Jeffery Ulmer presented his annual hiring report to the board. “We are 100 percent filled in our classrooms with zero openings,” he said. That is through the end of the year, the fiscal year, or roughly three weeks from now. 

“However,” he continued, “during the new semester we do have many, many openings coming up.”   

Over the last year, the district has filled more than 200 positions including 83 teachers/professional employees, 49 long-time subs, 20 support staff, 19 facilities staff, 17 confidential staff, 10 administrators, and six substitute custodians. While the turnover rate continues to be high, the district is seeing some improvements in the pace of resignations and retirements. 

“It’s slowing down little by little as we get away from COVID,” said Dr. Ulmer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between February 2020 and May 2022, more than 300,000 educators resigned in the U.S., citing concerns over safety, burnout, and low pay, among other reasons. Their exodus was labeled the “great resignation” by industry leaders.

One area of improvement for the district was retirements which have seen a 50 percent decrease from their peak in 2021. Last year 38 employees announced their retirement. “I expected that number to be double,” Dr. Ulmer told the board. However, the slowing doesn’t mean there isn’t more work to be done. As Dr. Ulmer shared, Pennsylvania has seen an unprecedented decline in qualified teachers. 

“The decline of certifications is absolutely mind-boggling. If we lose a chemistry teacher or physics teacher or a Spanish teacher, we know we are in trouble.”

Dr. Jeffrey Ulmer, WCASD Director of Human Resources

According to figures presented at the meeting, during the 2010 – 2011 school year 21,045 individuals held PA teaching certifications. By 2021-2022 (the latest year data is available ), that number had fallen to 6,153. That is a 70 percent drop in qualified candidates.  

“The decline of certifications is absolutely mind-boggling,” said Dr. Ulmer. “If we lose a chemistry teacher or physics teacher or a Spanish teacher, we know we are in trouble,” he said. 

To help make the district more competitive, the HR Department proposed and Personnel Committee members endorsed a mid-contract increase in teacher salaries. Under the proposed plan first-year teachers with a bachelor’s or master’s degree would see a $2,800 increase in their starting salary or roughly a five percent increase. Teachers with a doctorate would see a slightly smaller increase. 

While the change is technically intended to cover an increase to the Health Savings Plan deductible threshold as set by the IRS, Dr. Ulmer sees it as another tool his team can use to recruit. He cited salary as a “big part” of recent resignations. 

“I know this will make a lot of people happy,” he said after the proposal received unanimous support from board members. 

The changes are scheduled to go into effect beginning on Jan. 31. You can find the current teacher contract here and the newly recommended revised salary schedule here.

Originally published, Dec. 8, 2023

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