In a place like Mead, we know what it means to take care of what’s ours. Whether it’s a farm, a family business, or the family home, we’re frugal, we plan for the hard times, and make sure what we’ve built will last. That’s not just thrift – it’s pride, and it’s how you pass something better on to the next generation.
As Mead’s School Board President, I know that we also take great pride in the education we provide our kids, and our schools deserve the same care. The Mead School District is entrusted with the education of our children and the stewardship of your tax dollars. That trust means keeping our schools strong today, while simultaneously protecting them for the kids who will walk through our doors 10, 20, even 50 years from now. That requires clear-eyed decisions now – even when they’re not easy.
We have invested heavily in our educators. Today, the average teacher salary in Mead is about $103,000 a year, not counting state-funded health insurance and one of the best retirement systems in the nation. Teachers in Mead work a 180-day contract – which means the average teacher makes about $570 per day, before benefits. A look at the current salary schedule shows that most educator salaries in Mead have doubled since 2018, far outpacing increases provided to all other employee classifications in the district and also outpacing cost of living increases during that same time period. These are real investments in recruiting and retaining educators, made because we understand the importance of the work they do with and for kids…