After announcing a proposed seven percent increase in teacher pay (to get to the “national average”), Governor Easley called adjusting teacher pay for cost of living “smoke and mirrors.”
Obviously, Easley was alluding to my annual teacher pay report, which adjusts teacher pay for cost of living, experience, and pension contribution. By the way, when adjusted for these factors, North Carolina?s adjusted teacher compensation is $55,731, which is $5,401 higher than the U.S. adjusted average compensation and $4,811 higher than the U.S. adjusted median.
Of course, I would like the Governor’s office to explain this press release from October 25, 2005:
Easley?s plan will raise North Carolina?s pay, when adjusted for cost of living, above the national average by 2006-07 and to $4,000 above the national average by 2008-09.
It doesn’t sound like the Governor has a problem with cost of living adjustments for teacher pay after all.
