Harrisburg teachers fear hardship from salary cut, payback
by: Mark Hall
Posted: Aug 16, 2018 / 09:45 PM EDT / Updated: Aug 16, 2018 / 09:45 PM EDT
Teachers in the Harrisburg School District say paying back part of their past salaries will create a financial hardship. Some say they may lose their homes.
The district is asking 65 teachers to return a median amount of $12,000, claiming those teachers were overpaid for two school years. The teachers also would take a cut in their future salary.
"We are not in this to become rich," science teacher Marty Rosenberry said. "If you quote me a number and I sign a contract and all of a sudden you go back and change the number, I kind of felt disappointed and upset."
Rosenberry is looking at a pay reduction of $4,000 and will have to pay back another $4,000.
"$8,000 is a drop in the bucket for Bill Gates, but for me, that would alter my lifestyle," he said.
The district came up with the plan after the Harrisburg Education Association filed a grievance last year, saying 79 veteran teachers were underpaid when compared to the 65 new hires. The union hoped the district would raise the pay of veteran teachers.
The district came up with the plan in response to a grievance filed last year by the Harrisburg Education Association. The grievance said 79 veteran teachers were being paid less than the 65 new hires.
The district says it overpaid nearly $500,000. The union says its corrective plan would cost the district $320,000.
"How are my union members going to trust me as the president?" HEA president Jody Barksdale said. "They are looking at me for guidance and we had nothing to do with the situation."
So far, two teachers have resigned and more could follow.
"Had this happened in late June, I would have looked elsewhere," Rosenberry said.
The district did not respond to a request for comment.
More Harrisburg Stories
by Daniel Hamburg / Jul 19, 2019
HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) - The summer concert series at Hersheypark Stadium continues Saturday night with country star Thomas Rhett.
Hershey is making sure thousands of his fans don't get overwhelmed in the heat. In addition to misting stations which are always located on the track during summer shows, Hersheypark will have water available for everyone.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - A 21-year-old Harrisburg man who died in custody went into medical distress as prison staff was preparing to transfer him to a hospital, the district attorney said Friday.
Dauphin County District Attorney said Ty'rique Riley was arrested June 18 for assaulting his father with a sledgehammer. Because Riley was combative and seemed to have a mental health issue, he was placed on suicide watch.
Parking, public safety top concerns with 2nd Street two-way conversion
by Alex Peterson / Jul 19, 2019
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - Change is coming to a busy corridor in Harrisburg in the form of a two-way street.
North and South lanes are planned for a stretch of Second Street -- from Divison to Forster Streets -- which only has northbound lanes right now.