The D.C. Public Schools proposed teacher contract is affordable, as long as it’s palatable to teachers and city officals, according to an analysis obtained by the Washington Examiner.
The analysis, which uses funding figures provided by the school system, was compiled by the Parthenon Group, an international consulting company. It was requested by the school system to lend third-party support for the contract.
DCPS currently spends about $345 million on compensation and benefits for its 4,400 teachers, according to the report.
With payout of the contract’s retroactive salary increases, that figure would increase to about $404 million this year, but would be covered by portions of three pools of existing money: About $22 million in federal funds that have been set aside for raises, about $7 million from private donors, and about $34 million in savings resulting from a budgeting error realized in February.
Private donors have committed $64.5 million to the $140 million contract, should it earn city approval.
In 2011 and 2012, the costs would drop to $391 million and $384 million for salaries and pay raises. The declining figure partially reflects the school system’s continued focus on “right-sizing,” or balancing the number of students with the number of required teachers. DCPS officials speaking on background said they expect the number of teaching positions to fall by about 150 per year for at least several years. This would not necessitate more firings, officials said, because about 500 teachers leave the system each year because of retirement and attrition.
D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi’s office will decide in coming weeks whether or not they agree with Parthenon’s assessment.
“All of the facts, figures and information concerning the finances of the teachers contract will be released when the CFO’s analysis of the contract is made public,” said spokesman David Umansky.
