Congressional delegation goes to bat for Mo. teachers
Nine of Missouri’s members of Congress (including both U.S. senators) have co-signed a letter asking, in effect, what gives with a new interpretation of “teacher” by the IRS and the Social Security Administration.
In a joint statement, the members asserted that “Missouri’s educators may be suffering from a one-two punch” at their retirement accounts.
Here’s the gist:
”Based on a new federal ruling, some public school employees will no longer be able to pay into Missouri’s popular Public School Retirement System in lieu of Social Security – instead they will have to pay into both but receive reduced benefits….”
<span style=”..Employees at Missouri public schools have for decades participated in the Missouri’s Public School Retirement System rather than Social Security, but under the new interpretation of the term ‘teacher’, this will no longer be possible for teacher’s aides and countless other professionals working in public schools.
<span style=”As a result, individuals who have paid into the Public School Retirement System for years will now have to pay into Social Security as well, forcing them to deduct more money from each paycheck while receiving less benefits….”
”In a letter to the heads of the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Services, the members of Congress expressed their concern, asked for the rationale for the changes, and requested more information about how it will be implemented. ”
Those signing the letter:
U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill, and Christopher “Kit” Bond.
U.S. Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, Todd Akin,R-Town and Country, Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, William L. Clay, D-St. Louis, Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, Ike Skelton, D-Lexington, and Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City.
The two nonsigners: U.S. Reps. Roy Blunt, R-Strafford, and Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia.
“Think” obviously has had bad expiriences with schools somewhere along the line. I assure you, there is nothing sweet about this deal. I have been a Speech/Language Pathologist in the schools for 23 years. I have been required to have a caseload of 60 students up until last year when the feds changed max caseload to 50. Still too many. I write individual educational programs on EACH of those students and meet with the parents. I am required to bill Medicaid for those students who qualify. (Why do we bill for a service that is free of charge? That’s another story.) I have paid into PSRS for 23 years. I have enough quarters of SS (before I worked in the schools) to draw, yet I’m not allowed to. So I will pay into the SS system, yet NOT be allowed to draw from it, while my teacher retirement is REDUCED because that money has had to go to SS? They are trying to save SS off of OUR backs. How dare they. It’s legal thievery. I have a teaching certificate. I am an employee of the school. Why am I not considered a “teacher”. It is manipulation and thievery. It is morally wrong. If they are hell bent to do this, let it start with the new generation of “teachers”. Don’t STEAL our retirement. It’s another step toward socialism. Do not be complacent America. It will sneak up on you like a theif in the night. SPEAK UP!
Here are some of the positions that will no longer be considered “teachers”:
•Special Education Teachers
•Literacy Specialists/Teacher Leader
•Reading Recovery Teachers/Teacher Leader
•ESOL Teachers
•Gifted Education Teachers
•Early Childhood Teachers
•Early Childhood Special Education Teachers
•Kindergarten teachers
•School Psychologists
•ESCs
•Career Education (Business, IT, Marketing, FACS, Cadet Teaching)
•Speech-Language Pathologists/Audiologists
•Diagnostic Team
•Educational Technology Specialist
•ISAP/Study Hall
•Vision & Orientation/Mobility
•Parent Educators
•Drivers Education
•Coaches
•Extra-Duty Positions
•Band Directors
•Paraprofessionals and Aides
•Substitute Teachers who are retired teachers
•Activities Directors
•Directors
•Coordinators
•Department Chairs
•Dean/Administrative Interns
•Content Leaders
•Writing Lab teachers
Here is the effect it will have:
Educators will be leaving public education to enter the private sector in droves, and districts will not be able to fill these positions since no one in their right mind wants to pay more to get less than the teacher across the hall. Children with special needs will have no special education teachers and will fall through the cracks (no district in the state will meet AYP under NCLB if this happens). Students needing speech services will not have the benefit of a speech/language pathologist to assist them. There will be no one to diagnose educational, emotional, or behavioral problems without school psychologists or diagnostic teams. Elective courses such as mine, where students who struggle with core subjects often excel, will be eliminated. Children will not have early childhood services or even a kindergarten teacher. Students who need extra help in the areas of reading and literacy will not be serviced, nor will those who are gifted be enriched. Sports and other extracurricular activities (drama, marching band, Student Council, etc.) will be cut due to the lack of coaches and sponsors.