A 1% raise does not keep up with inflation.
It does not reflect the rising cost of living.
And it does not support the educators our students depend on.
One Percent is Not Enough
Results, by the numbers:
In two weeks, 312 members of WCTA & WCESP shared our thoughts on why we deserve more than a 1% raise.
The Data (From 312 Responses)
- 84% mention rising cost of living or inflation
- 73% cite basic survival costs such as groceries, gas, and bills
- 39% report struggling to afford everyday living expenses
- 29% say healthcare or insurance increases cancel out any raise
- 25% describe the 1% raise as insulting, disrespectful, or a “slap in the face”
- 24% indicate needing multiple jobs to make ends meet
- 22% highlight housing challenges, including rent and homeownership
Real Impact of a 1% Raise
- Example: ≈ $5/week after taxes
- Inflation: ~2.4%–3.2%+
- Result: A pay cut in real terms
What We Are Experiencing
- “I can’t afford groceries.”
- “I can’t pay my bills.”
- “I have to get a second job just to make ends meet.”
- “Insurance increases will leave me with less money.”
- “I can’t afford gas to get to work.”
- “1% + insurance increases is a pay cut.”
Key Reality
A 1% raise:
- Does not cover inflation
- Does not cover rising insurance costs
- Does not meet basic living needs
Many of us are losing purchasing power—even with a raise
The Bottom Line
This is not about “wanting more.”
This is about:
- Affording food
- Paying bills
- Supporting families
- Staying in the profession
What We Are Asking For
- Raises that match or exceed cost of living (3%+)
- Protection against healthcare cost increases
- A livable, sustainable wage
This is What We Had to Say:
Names and specific, potentially identifying information have been removed to ensure anonymity
| –Grocery bills have skyrocketed. –Gas prices average $70-100/week. –Paying student loans. –Housing tax assessment rising. –Could not live on my paycheck alone. |
| –TONS ($100k+) of student loans –Extra 40 hr week in summer –I barely make enough to get by AND I have a masters! |
| —1% does not cover increase of 1 utility bill. —1% does not keep up w/ inflation. —Beef aone at the grocery has increased 50% |
| —1% doesn’t cover the tax on a purchase. —COLA is higher than this! —Degrading number based on all the work at our job and take home work! —Doesn’t represent any appreciation for WCPS workers. —Doesn’t help at all w/ supplies I have to buy for my job |
| …because my daughter is in college out of state |
| 1) A 1% raise doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it exists alongside the COLA. If inflation is sitting at 3% or 4%, a 1% raise means teachers are losing 2-3% of their purchasing power every year. 2) We are currently in a “talent war.” Our district doesn’t compete with neighboring school systems; we compete w/ the private sector. Most teachers have Masters & Certification w/ an annual increase of 1%, whereas the private sector – most have only Bachelors degrees & receive 3-4.5% annual increase! WCPS are losing educators for the private sector. 3) A 1% raise for $70,000 is $700 yearly before taxes. After taxes, that’s barely enough to cover a week’s worth of gas or food. Does NOT cover rising insurance. |
| 1) Rent & other bills like electric that continue to go up. 2) Can’t afford groceries. 3) Need to be able to match cost of living to care for family |
| 1% < What we deserve. It is a slap in the face! |
| 1% does not cover cost of living and medical increase |
| 1% does not keep up with inflation. I spend my own $ on classroom supplies. |
| 1% does not pay for food, gas, electric, house payments, med, water bill, HOA or anything else. |
| 1% doesn’t cover the cost of my oil to heat my house or the extra $2,000 I’ll now be asked to spend at the doctor’s office because of rising insurance costs. 1% means I may have to leave Washington County Schools. |
| 1% doesn’t pay for gas. 1% doesn’t pay for food. 1% doesn’t pay for health care. 1% doesn’t pay rent. 1% doesn’t pay child care |
| 1% for me is $7.22 per week. After tax I might get $5.00. To be fair everyone should get the same dollar amount so that the higher paid employees aren’t any different than the lower paid employees. $50 p/wk for everyone |
| 1% for someone with a M.Ed. and 20+ years of experience?! Educators like me feel devalued by this! |
| 1% increase in pay does not equal C.O.L.A. Not enough! |
| 1% is a very poor choice. Can’t live off it w/ today’s economy |
| 1% is definitely not enough! Teachers get more and more put on their plates and with insurance costs going up, we need more than 1% |
| 1% is not enough because even social security benefits will increase 2.8% for the increase in cost of living (SSA.gov) |
| 1% is not enough because it does not keep up with current living cost. |
| 1% is not enough for cost of living & insurance changes. |
| 1% is not enough to cover the hike in insurance |
| 1% is not enough to even pay for groceries or gas as inflation in s3.6%. We already make the lowest of everyone and do the most work! It’s not fair! |
| 1% is not enough to help pay our health insurance |
| 1% is not enough to pay for 3 kids in childcare! |
| 1% is not enough when I don’t even get the extra 10% others do get. I work w/ special ed students diploma bound |
| 1% is not enough when I have two children in college and am financially responsible for taking care of elderly relatives. |
| 1% is NOT enough when my grocery bill is higher than ever (despite shopping @ multiple retailers to lower costs). With one child registering for college and one entering HS; blending families w/ my aging mother and my spouse taking a pay-cut to reduce hours due to health consideration – we will struggle to keep our heads above water for several years. In add., I pay out of pocket (often) for classroom supplies. |
| 1% is not enough when my property taxes have increased by $400/month over the past 5 years. |
| 1% is not enough when over the past two years, grocery prices have increased 5-7%!!! How am I supposed to feed my family? |
| 1% is not enough when rental prices have increased 10-20% over the past two years. Utilities are up by ~5-12%, and insurance has increased 10-25%. I already work 3 jobs and still have nothing left. |
| 1% is not enough! I have to work 2 jobs as gas, clothing, and grocery prices have significantly increased but my pay has not! I can’t afford to live and work |
| 1% is not enough! I’m a young adult with a lot of expenses. I have to have two jobs just to be able to afford my bills/college loans! Please consider rethinking this! One percent does not keep up with the inflation! |
| 1% is not enough! Some of us are dealing with real health issues. CANCER. |
| 1% is not enough! Treat us w/ respect. 1% is an insult |
| 1% is NOT enough! While the cost of EVERYTHING goes up, we’re depending on our paychecks to provide day care, groceries, gas… Why do we suffer when others don’t? What will it take? |
| 1% is NOT enough! With the change to pay & insurance the board is proposing, most of us will make LESS than we currently do. Pair this with rising cost of living and we are being set up for failure. It’s insulting. |
| 1% is not enough. Because everything is going up (insurance, water, light, rent) |
| 1% is not enough. Cost of living is higher. All counties nearby pay much more than WCPS |
| 1% is not enough. Everything has skyrocketed in price – fuel, food, premiums, electricity, repair costs. I support a grandchild and those costs have increased as well. Doctors, day care, clothing and needed items. Taxes increased, & etc. |
| 1% is not enough. I love my job and I love teaching students BUT life is getting expensive. A friend of mine just got an entry level job paying more an hour than me. I cannot afford being a teacher much longer even though I have a degree |
| 1% is not enough. Teachers do far more than teach – we take on multiple roles. If we were paid for everything we do, we would be earning far beyond what we currently receive. |
| 1% is not enough. This is actually a PAY CUT due to cost of living. |
| 1% is not enough. With things rising this impacts my family directly, my ability to continue furthering my education, and lastly my ability to feel job security. I hope you reflect deeply on this as if it was you and your family. Thank you for what you do. |
| 1% is such a joke. With prices going up on all expenses, 1% doesn’t keep up with it. It doesn’t even make a dent into the expenses we have to pay. We are losing amazing, qualified educators to other counties. Teachers are having to do more and the pay doesn’t reflect that. |
| 1% isn’t enough to cover the cost of insurance increase. |
| 1% isn’t going to be a liveable wage. 1) Inflation is up 3.3%, we take a 2.3% pay cut. 2) With the health benefit increase we take even more of a pay cut. Why work here if we can’t afford to live? |
| 1% isn’t’ enough – it won’t help pay for increasing gas prices, groceries. How do I support a family on 1%? I need a second job which will then require child care. I can’t afford that so no second job. |
| 1% pay increase does not cover insurance increase |
| 1% will not cover other increases w/ Benefits! Possibly a decrease |
| 1% will not help cover expenses on the household bills |
| 1% will not pay the bills or for insurance |
| 1% won’t even cover gas to and from work all year |
| 5 percent raise to cover the essentials. Thank you. |
| A 1% doesn’t cover my groceries, electric, gas, and all of my other stuff that has gone up. |
| A 1% raise does not reflect the financial realities our family is facing. We recently welcomed a new baby after undergoing IVF, which required significant out of pocket expenses. With rising insurance premiums, deductibles, childcare costs, and basic needs, this increase falls short. I remain deeply committed to my students, giving time beyond the school day, at the expense of my own family. This request is not just about compensation, but recognizing our financial pressures. |
| A 1% raise will not keep up with inflation/cost of living these days. With the proposed changes to health care coverage, I’ll be taking home less even with a 1% raise. I don’t feel valued with these proposals. |
| A 1% salary increase does not reflect current economic conditions. As educators, it is difficult to keep pace financially, particularly as everyday expenses outgrow adjustments. We urge the board to offer a proposal that more fairly reflects the needs and values of its educators. |
| A babysitter makes more than a teacher with a Bachelor’s AND Master’s Degree. For example, charge $4 per hour x approx. 6 hours per day x 100 students seen in a day x 180 days = $540,000 salary. We’re not asking for $540,000, but simply to be paid what we’re worth considering we shape all futures. The longer we go without, the more of us will find other career options. |
| A one percent increase feels like a slap in the face. I have to work two and three jobs and can still barely make my bills. We deserve more. We work HARD! |
| According to the US Bureau of Labor & Statistics, the consumer price index is up 2.4% over the last 12 months. Jan 9th Herald Mail cites a proposed 8.14% salary increase for elected officials – commissioners & school board!!! |
| Already under paid! |
| Are you getting a 1% raise? |
| As a graduate of WCPS, I wanted to support my community by teaching here. Now 27 years later, the cost of groceries, gas & just healthy living are skyrocketing! Every day I support students with developmental needs & I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. |
| As a single income, single woman, the rising cost of living is becoming more difficult. I waitress summer, but I now have to pick up hours on the weeknights to pay for my RENT increase. Not to mention other expenses…like starting a masters degree & paying my student loans. |
| As a teacher that their job revolves around conducting after school opportunities, I am unable to do my job appropriately due to not having enough money and no opportunity for a second job due to how many hours are worked after school |
| As a veteran teacher, I wanted to share my thoughts —> A simple COLA would be the bare minimum for any job. I very much worry about our loss of quality educators to Frederick County. I personally know 8 educators that moved to Fred Co in last 3 years. We run the risk of being a farm system for FCPS if we do not begin to support teachers in this county. Please keep this in mind when making decisions. I understand that our tax base is not Fred Co but I also know that we should & could be doing more to fund Wash Co Education. Thx. |
| Be able to afford gas for my car. |
| Because everything is too expensive |
| Because I’m a WCPS parent, too, with 3 kids on the way to college |
| Because inflation is getting higher and higher. Everything goes up except wages. |
| Because it does not pay anything that doesn’t cover expenses |
| Because of such low pay, I need to work a second job before/after school in order to pay my bills. I do not indulge in luxuries – such as vacation as I cannot afford to. I love my job, I love my students – I’m just unsure of how long I can afford to keep this para job due to pay. |
| Because the cost of living goes up and wages don’t go up. This is why most of us get 2nd jobs. |
| Because you can’t be in front and back of bus at same time with students who have behavior problems |
| Before you decide that educators are only worth a 1% COLA, you need to come spend a few days in our shoes, shadowing some teachers. You’ll soon see why we are passionate about a salary increase which reflects our worth! |
| Being a mom of 2 very active kids, a wife and a teacher & coach I had to start my own business to supplement normal living expenses. |
| Between the cost of living, utilities, groceries, and masters degree student loans, I had to find other sources of income to supplement. 1% is not enough! |
| Bills are increasing and 1% raise is not enough for us to survive this economy. |
| Can’t afford a new pair of shoes. |
| Can’t afford groceries, electric bill, gas – everything. How the hell is 1% enough. Ridiculous. How do you expect people to live. Then raise our insurance prices & we get less. Do Better! |
| Can’t afford groceries. Can’t afford gas for car to travel to work every day. May have to find another job. |
| Can’t afford rent |
| Can’t buy my own home. Gonna need a second job. Can’t pay bills. Can’t provide for my own child. Can’t pay gas to come to work. |
| Can’t help my daughters for college and go to vacation |
| Can’t live off 1% |
| Can’t pay for my car |
| Cancelled vacation this year |
| Cannot live off affordability |
| car, home, health insurance have gone up. utilities. up. grocery bills. up. gas. up. 1% cola with an insurance increase is not enough. |
| Child care expenses are on the rise. |
| Childcare & gas prices are on the rise. Healthcare premiums & out of pocket expenses are getting higher. One percent does not keep up with inflation. Grocery costs have increased but my pay has not. |
| Classroom supplies. Rent increase. Bill increase. College tuition. Groceries |
| Cost of living |
| Cost of living |
| Cost of living |
| Cost of living |
| Cost of living |
| Cost of living adjustment is already 2.8% this year with rising prices of groceries, gas, housing, etc., we need more than 1% raise. |
| Cost of living has increased. |
| Cost of living is 3% min! |
| Cost of living is getting too expensive |
| Cost of living is going up |
| Cost of living is not affordable. |
| Cost of living too high |
| Cost of living went up 3% |
| Cost of living, ins up 10%, gas cost, food cost |
| Daycare |
| Dear WCPS, 15 is nowhere near enough. I have a masters degree and barely make enough to buy groceries and pay bills. Why do teachers have to keep fighting for our worth? You care about us? Prove it! |
| Despite our dedication to student success, teacher morale is waning. Each years, teachers have more expectations placed on us — larger class sizes, additional classes without compensation, meetings, the expectation that we will provide our own class supplies despite rising costs, etc. Facing these unsustainable pressures amidst talks of drastically increasing healthcare costs and a mere 1% pay increase leave many teachers questioning whether our tireless contributions are truly valued. |
| Doesn’t pay for my gas to come to work or my insurance. |
| Don’t help pay for ins. |
| Don’t help pay for ins. or gas to come to work. |
| Due to health care increases – $20 for a life saving medication to $75 (275% increase) has substantially affected our household. 1% is NOT enough to support our families. |
| Due to inflation and the rise in our insurance, 1% is not enough. I spend a lot of money on my classroom – but I had to cut back this year. We are going to lose qualified teachers if something is not done. Thank you for your time! |
| Due to inflation, I’m making less than I have in years with a 1% increase. |
| Educators earned a raise. Educators guide the future. |
| Educators in WCPS are continuing to get more demands, and more issues in our classrooms that we must manage. We are worth more than 1% |
| Every day it feels like I have to make the decision of someone else’s children or choosing another profession to live comfortably enough to support my own. We work too hard. The insurance increases enough are frightening. I just want to live! Not trying to be rich, just live. 1% doesn’t allow that. |
| Everything is going up. Insurance is always going up. Cost of living. |
| Fails to match inflation |
| Family of 4 costs $100-150/wk for groceries |
| Food prices… Gas prices… Insurance increase… and MORE!!! |
| Food. Medicine. Rent. Car insurance. Gas. Maintenance. Garments. Entertainment. Vision. Dental. |
| Food/Groceries. Gas. Children. Health care. If health care goes up, we are losing money! Have to make 3x rent for place to live |
| Fuel prices |
| GAS |
| Gas has gone up $1.30 since January 2026 |
| Gas is 4.19/gallon |
| Gas price increase |
| Gas prices are going up! |
| Goods and services roughly 20-22% more than 2021 yet our pay is only increasing by 1%! We do more with less. Many employees will need a second or third job… which WILL affect our jobs! |
| Groceries |
| Groceries are on the rise & I have a baby to feed! |
| Groceries are up 3% in the past year! |
| Groceries have increased! Feeding a family of 6 takes a significant portion of my paycheck! |
| Groceries! |
| Grocery and gas costs are increasing, but my pay has not. I started a second job, but with overall increase in living costs, I can barely make ends meet with rent and childcare. |
| Grocery costs have increased but my pay has not. One percent will not cover the increase in health care costs. Educators can go to neighboring counties (educators w/ years of experience) and make significantly more money. |
| Grocery prices have risen 30% |
| Grocery prices, gas, and health care costs have gone up, but our pay has not! |
| Ground beef costs $7-8/lb |
| Have multiple jobs to make ends meet and can’t put money away for a house. |
| Having to adjust and pay more with medical bills/expenses is demoralizing. How can we do our jobs if we are not healthy AND compensated appropriately? |
| Health insurance premiums increased last year and now all deductibles and copays are increasing this year. I now have less since I carry healthcare for my family. |
| Healthcare costs are going way up and this directly affects my family. Low compensation is causing me to look to other counties. The cost of living has gone up way more than 1%. My husband is disabled and I need to get a second job in order for us to survive. |
| Healthcare premiums and out of pocket expenses are getting higher. It takes a lot of money to care for three children with multiple health conditions. |
| Healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket expenses are rising. We need to meet those rising costs! |
| Healthcare premiums are getting too high. 1% does not cover inflation and the cost of gas. |
| High cost of living! |
| How am I supposed to help with creating opportunities for my students to participate in after school activities when I have to have a second job to afford rent? |
| How are we to pay bills with everything increasing except our pay! One percent is not enough!! |
| How are you giving yourselves 8% when teachers get 1% and an increase in health insurance. Without teachers, you would not have a job. I don’t know how to explain to care about people. Hopefully you figure it out SOON!! |
| How can I help kids if I can’t help myself? 1% is a pay cut that doesn’t even match inflation. I can barely afford the essentials and minor problems wipe out my savings. |
| How can my husband and I both work full time, yet still be living paycheck to paycheck? We are one emergency from not surviving. We are having to help, not only our adult and teen children, but also our aging parents. I’m looking for additional work to supplement my income from the BOE. I am keeping my health insurance though my husband’s work. They charge a fee because I am eligible for insurance through my job. It is still cheaper to pay that fee than buy my own health insurance through the BOE. If my husband and I both work full time, why are we still having a problem filling up the oil heating tank each winter? 1% IS NOT ENOUGH |
| I already work two jobs to help pay for groceries. Without appropriate cost of living wages, two jobs will not be enough. |
| I am a 30+ year veteran. I have lost ground financially for the last six years. I’m not asking for a corporate bonus, I’m only asking for a fair wage to hedge inflation. |
| I am a first year teacher. My house is single income (my pay alone). The increase of insurance without increasing my pay makes me fearful of paying my bills. |
| I am a teacher with over 30 years experience, but still need a part time job to afford to stay in Wash. Co. One percent is an INSULT! |
| I am currently looking for a second job. The cost of living adjustment that’s below inflation isn’t a raise. It’s a pay cut. |
| I am getting married in the fall and adding my husband to my insurance will be a decrease and the 1% does not come close to covering the difference. 1% is not even a cost of living increase. |
| I am going to have to find another job! 1% is a slap in the face! The cost of living has gone up and with the 10% increase of Health insurance, it will not cover. I already have and 2nd job to support my family and I am missing time with them. |
| I am very concerned about the big increases in cost of living including increased insurance premiums and out of pocket costs. ESP will be struggling! |
| I believe 1% is not enough because it does not keep up with the high inflation rates. |
| I believe that a 1% increase is not enough given the current cost of living. Expenses like gas, housing, food, and utilities have all gone up by at least 16.9% for utilities and 12.7% housing. 1% increase does not reflect the demands of these changes in living standard. I hope the union can push for a stronger adjustment that can make a real difference for members and their families. |
| I can’t afford light bill, gas for my car, groceries. I live by myself |
| I can’t afford my bills, had to get a part-time job to make ends meet. Don’t get to see my family now! |
| I can’t afford my gas to get back and forth to work or even to buy food. |
| I can’t afford to feed my family. |
| I can’t afford to pay for gas. |
| I can’t feed my family and can’t pay my bills, pay food. |
| I can’t live. Can’t buy food. Can’t pay my bills. Can’t buy gas. Cost of living |
| I cannot afford life on this salary. 1% is not enough. |
| I cannot afford my car payment each month nor basic groceries or gas! |
| I cannot afford new prescription eyeglasses. |
| I cannot buy groceries as it is |
| I cannot pay my rent |
| I cannot take care of my own family on 1%. Show you care! |
| I cover a lot of bills in our family, with a big jump in our insurance, it’s hard enough paying bills now but will be worse now that insurance is going up so much. |
| I drive a 21 year old car because it’s paid for. Inflation hits so hard I can’t afford a car payment, gas, groceries, and now more for insurance. I try to be self-sufficient and sell things on the side, but it’s not enough!! |
| I FEEL UNDERVALUED |
| I had to get a second job. |
| I have 4 kids! |
| I have a Bachelor’s degree and was told upon hire that wage was non-negotiable despite my experience and high qualifications, simply because I’m ESP. I worked hard and got my degree to be here and deserve a living wage. I deserve to be able to work and go home to my family and not worry about the health and safety of myself and my family. I should not need multiple jobs to survive just because I have a job I love. Health insurance increasing with only 1% pay increase is horrible! In a specialized classroom, germs spread rapidly and we aren’t compensated for illness via workmans com. How are we expected to take care of ourselves/our families/our students when WCPS won’t take care of us? |
| I have been a part of WCPS for 10 years. I had to get a second job. We are losing educators w/ low pay. |
| I have been a teacher forever. 25+ years and I have taken an extra job because bills are getting out of hand. Now health insurance is slated to increase over 800%. Such an insult. |
| I have had to take on extra jobs and responsibilities so I can make ends meet. I am a professional with a master’s degree and that’s not okay. |
| I have kids! |
| I have to beg students to learn… I don’t want to beg for my county for fair pay! 630 dollars is half my rent!! |
| I love my job. I love helping students. However, to be a school counselor requires a master’s degree. Student loans are a burden, exacerbated by the rising cost of living. Fair compensations increases staff retention & shows us that we are valued. Please show us we matter. One percent does not show us you value us. Please support us. Thank you. |
| I moved to Washington County to teach because it was a place I could afford to raise a family on my salary. Since then inflation has been 3+% every year. One percent means I can’t afford it here. |
| I need more than 1% because of gas prices and the cost of food. |
| I need to be able to pay my loans and save for a house. |
| I need to pay my bills |
| I need to pay my mortgage, buy food, utilities for our family. I have 3 kids! One percent is not enough. Need gas to drive to work! |
| I pay out of pocket to ensure my students have materials. With rising healthcare costs and inflation, I fear for my ability to afford gas, groceries, etc. |
| I spend my own money on supplies. One percent does not keep up with inflation. With the demands you put on teachers the morale is being impacted. More workload and less pay |
| I utilize Marathon Health to save the district money, yet I’m being penalized w/ a 10% premium increase for diminished coverage while my property taxes climb 5x faster than this 1% raise. As a mid-career teacher, I am essentially taking a “net pay cut” to train a new generation of staff who are entering the profession at my expense. Forcing veterans to choose between household necessities, their own health, and the “teacher tax” of buying their own supplies is a direct recipe for burnout and exodus from WACO. |
| I will have to use some of my days to get through the school year since gas is so expensive |
| I work two additional jobs, usually working six to seven days a week. Plus my salary. I still just barely make it. Gas prices, groceries, rents are getting higher. This isn’t sustainable or fair. |
| I work weeknights and weekends to afford to live. I never get a break. |
| I would have a funeral for my father. |
| I’m actually receiving a pay cut due to the insurance increases and a raise less than 1%. Any increase is immediately lost. Why should I stay at WCPS? |
| I’m hoping to make real decisions based on the proposed 1% raise, like if I should leave WCPS (or teaching) altogether. My bills are growing but my salary is not. |
| I’m working to feed a family of 8. Not only feed them but provide a home, electricity, water, and any health care they might need. ONE PERCENT IS NOT ENOUGH. |
| I’ve given 20 years of my life to WCPS. -43% of my life has been spent educating the children of WCPS. 1% + the insurance increases essential amounts to a pay cut. We deserve more. |
| If something cost $10 in 2021, it now costs $12.02 = 21% more. INFLATION: 2022 = 9.1%; 2023 = 3.8%; 2024 = 2.9%; 2025 = 3.2%. WCPS SALARY INCREASE: 2023/24 = 3%; 2024/25 = 2%; 2025/26 = 1% |
| If the county commissioners would stop lining their pockets they could afford to give us more than a 1% raise. |
| If WACO wants to retain quality teachers, the math has to work. A 1% COLA and 10% insurance increase means my family is in deficit before the school year even begins. I’m choosing between buying classroom supplies and paying for my children’s sports. Losing our traditional vacation to rising costs isn’t just a financial issue; it’s a mental health issue. We deserve a contract that reflects the actual cost of living in MD, not one that forces us into a lower standard of living every year. |
| If you want talented teachers, pay them. My husband, who was in the same math class as I was in college, gets paid 3 times what I do to work from home. He thought about teaching — we can’t afford it! |
| In relationships, workers responsibilities, people expect commitment. Giving just 1% can feel like disinterest or lack of care, because it doesn’t meet the need or standard. |
| Increased behavior problems and drugs in schools have made my job a lot harder. 1% does not do it. |
| Inflation is high, gas prices are crazy – I live 40 minutes from work. It creates low morale especially when neighboring counties pay more. Please fight for us —good employees are hard to find. |
| Inflation last month was 3%. A 1% increase per year does not even keep up with inflation. This does not cover the increase in gas to come to work. |
| Inflation rates through 2030 are predicted to be approximately 2.2% – 3.0% per year. Rising costs: rent, utilities, food, gas, insurance. Work expenditures: teaching supplies, markers, pens, pencils, erases, paper, notebooks, file folders, etc. My pay: having a master’s degree, my pay is minimally higher than those w/ less education and experience. –Student loans are a significant portion of my income.–I spend my own money on classroom supplies. –One percent DOES NOT keep up with inflation. –I work 50-60 hours per week to support my students’ learning |
| INFLATION. Ins cost increased/deductible. Cost of living, gas, grocery. I already work a second job of 42 to 48 hours a month. Out of pocket expenses for insurance. Morale and work ethic is impacted. INFLATION. |
| Insurance increase. Everyday expenses. Cost of living |
| It is hard to pay for groceries and gas. The increase in health care premiums takes a big chunk of our pay. I am concerned a lot of quality teachers and staff will look elsewhere for jobs that pay more. Neighboring counties have higher pay for educators already. |
| It is hot. I have rooms to clean, some w/o AC so I will make this quick. The MINIMUM living wage in MD was $26/hour. That was a few years ago, before the war, the increase in gas prices and the increase in food prices. Make us feel appreciated. |
| Life is so expensive right now and I may need a second job. |
| Looks like I will be picking up shifts at my second job! Nothing makes a teacher feel more appreciated than earning a Masters degree then getting paid pennies by the county! At least everyone in central office is making six figures. I’ll work here for 30 years and not make that much. WCPS = We Can’t Pay Staff |
| Losing educators to low compensation, cannot afford insurance. We are devalued. |
| Many of my colleagues, myself included, have had to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet. Staff are losing valuable time for self-care due to financial demands. That trickles over to school where staff are pouring from an empty cup. |
| My electric bill went up more than the 1% raise in just 1 month. Now multiply that out by 12 months! 1% IS NOT ENOUGH |
| My gas to get to work keeps rising. |
| My homeowners insurance increases at least 5% each year |
| My medication costs increasing 650%. I went from paying $40 every 10 days to $300 every 90 days. 1% is not nearly enough to cover the rising healthcare costs – which are continuing to raise! |
| My paycheck will be in the negative if insurance also goes up. |
| Need a new truck can’t afford to. |
| Need more money for fuel. Need more money for food. Need more money for housing. |
| Need more than 1% to take care of my infant. |
| Need to apply for 2nd job to make ends meet. |
| Not enough for groceries in this changing economy |
| Not enough to live on. Gas, groceries, etc. Already well below the living wage. I don’t want to have to quit this job b/c of the low pay. 1% w/ insurance going up. We’re losing money. |
| One percent does not keep up with inflation |
| One percent does not keep up with inflation at all. One percent does not reflect the increasing workload of an educator |
| One percent does not keep up with inflation! The cost to feed a family of 6 and commute to work is raising while our pay is not. |
| One percent is a slap in the face! Cost of living, inflation is MORE than 1% so effectively it’s a pay cut! Add in insurance changes, I may have to look elsewhere. Can’t afford electric NOW! |
| One percent is not an even slightly enough amount to keep up with inflation. It is stupid! |
| One percent is not enough – especially with the increases and expenses related to healthcare and insurance. In addition, morale in the schools decreases when we feel we aren’t valued. |
| One percent is not enough because inflation has gone up as well as other household expenses. I have to supplement income to make ends meet. |
| One percent is not enough because the cost of living is rising and my pay should at least try to keep up. Caring for a family, contributing to my household, purchasing necessities, and getting from point A to point B require more than one percent. |
| One percent is not enough for our cost of living. We deserve more! |
| One percent is not enough to offset the raising costs of groceries, gas, health care, life! |
| One percent is not enough! All other costs of living have increased, but my pay has not. Low compensation equals losing talented quality teachers. |
| One percent is not enough. My husband has had to take on a second job just to afford our mortgage and childcare |
| Only 1% while the cost of living everything goes up shows how underappreciated teachers are buy our leaders. Countless hours + infinite work + expectations isn’t valued |
| Pay ESP for 6 snow days rather than employees having to use sick/personal |
| Pay us like professionals |
| Pay us like we are valuable!! —Cost of living does not get paid with 1%. —Gas cost does not get paid with 1% —It is NOT 1% for all teachers. —We teach the future and are professionals that are worth more than 1% |
| Paying for my student loans is where most of my income goes and I thought working for the school system would benefit me, but we need more than 1%. |
| People who receive social security benefits are getting a 2.8% increase. The government can find that money but you can’t find more than 1% for the people who change lives every day? Come on… Do Better!! |
| Prices of everything going up. The ones that do the real work should be getting the raise. |
| Raising 4 kids is really hard with the one percent. |
| Rent increase |
| Respectfully, We, the bus drivers and attendants of Washington County are tasked daily with the safe transport to and from school, of every eligible student. We are required as drivers to obtain and maintain a CDL-B driver’s license. Drivers and attendants are subject to additional trainings and testing. That being said, we are all subjected daily to a level of disrespect, and abhorrent, inappropriate behavior that would shock some white collars. Being cussed at, spit on, kicked, stratched, and punched, or having things thrown at us. Our buses get trashed and we are left to clean up the mess. We often get NO support from upper management or school administration. We CERTAINLY don’t get paid enough as it is. Most of us have seconds jobs. It is absolutely INSULTING after all we do for the children and families of the county to say that we will only receive a 1% raise. Without us, no one would get anywhere. Show some actual appreciation, and at least pretend that you care about us. |
| Rising cost of health care and general inflation means a 1% raise is not enough. Teachers will see less money in our pockets even with our yearly “raise” |
| Show WCPS teachers they are VALUED and give them an ACTUAL raise. |
| Still won’t be able to keep up with bills. |
| Taught in Washington County for 28 years and live in Washington County. One percent is not enough because our health care is rising and we will in fact be getting a pay cut with the 1%. We deserve better. |
| Teachers are increasingly viewed as free childcare instead of professionals educating kids to be able to perform critical life skills. If teachers can’t afford to live and leave the profession, students won’t learn these skills from an AI… and parents lose their babysitter. Even more kids won’t be able to read, and the free childcare ends. What then? |
| Teachers are not just another line item in a budget –raising pay has a ripple effect across the community. When teachers are not truly valued everyone loses. You need to find areas to address and give teachers a 5-10% raise. |
| The 1% increase does not cover any part of the increase in insurance so I will be making less money. Paraprofessionals and other staff at WCPS already don’t make enough and this will make our pay rate even worse. This will make myself as well as others be forced to get another job or be forced to find another job. |
| The 1% raise does not help my family. We are already living paycheck to paycheck & both my spouse and I work great jobs. We don’t live outside of our means. However with the cost of everything plus unexpected bills we don’t have enough to live on. We have 2 growing girls & some unexpected medical bills for one who has a speech delay it’s not enough. Not to mention that we have unexpected car repair bills for a truck that has blown 3 engines. We can’t afford to pay off current balance to get a new reliable vehicle. |
| The cost of everything is going up and you can’t get ahead. |
| The cost of everything is going up except my pay. Going to have to get another job to afford my bills. |
| The cost of living has gone up more than 1%! |
| The cost of living has gone up! We deserve better – DO BETTER! |
| The cost of living typically goes up 3% per year. |
| The cost of living, especially rent, is so high that 95% of my paycheck goes to rent alone. I live paycheck to paycheck and that’s not a comfortable way of living. Anxiety 24/7 because of money |
| The daily cost of living has gone up. 1% does not even cover that, and our health care is going up. I will be taking home less! |
| The lack of raise is the reason I resigned from WCPS for next year. I had to take a job in another county so I could afford to pay my bills. |
| The national average increase is 3% for each person. Are we at least worth the average? |
| The price of GAS to get to work |
| There are too many students not getting assistance. |
| This “decrease” is going to impact me tremendously. I have student loans I have to pay back ($700 a month) while living with food allergies that impact what I eat (with increasing food costs). I’m living paycheck to paycheck. |
| This does not even come close to matching what we are worth. It does nothing to offset the rising cost of life. It is not equitable because not everyone is getting 1%. Do better. |
| This hurts families, students, and your employees. I have a teenager, a WCPS educated, 4.0, awesome kid. This 1% does not cover all the expenses we have now and in 2 years as she applies for school. We can’t afford to visit schools. |
| Tired of trying to prove my WORTH |
| Unbelievable! Insurance going up! Gas going up! Electric & energy going up! Medical bills! Vehicle repairs! What can I do with 1%? Despicable |
| VALUED – I thought we were valued. We’re always told that. 1% increase is not valued. But, better than nothing except a slap in the face. Up our benefits but give no compensation. Shame on you! |
| Wage does not match what other professions requiring our level of education provide. Teachers should not have to stay out of love for children. |
| WCPS educators deserve a living wage increase. This past year, I have had countless unexpected expenses – new washer, dishwasher, refrigerator, personal laptop, and roof…I now carry debt for the first time ever! |
| We already don’t make enough, now we’re going to pay more in health insurance, so we’ll make less-with a raise. |
| We appreciate our employer but also need to feel appreciated. 1% not enough for 2 kids in college and our lowered healthcare. Not enough to feed a house full w/ rising costs of groceries. High demands of teaching. Not enough to keep quality teachers to other competitive salaries. |
| We are always asked to do much, much more than 1% more. |
| We are expected to continue higher education, then have to justify our value. I have to consider other job options out of county if I can’t continue to afford to live. I just had a child and can’t keep up with inflation. ONE PERCENT IS NOT ENOUGH!!! |
| We are more valuable than 1%!!! And that is ridiculous!!! |
| We can’t afford insurance increases or a 1% pay increase. I work 3 jobs to make up for my pay at WCPS. Everything has increased (gas, groceries) except our pay. |
| We shouldn’t need multiple jobs to meet basic needs. |
| We work too hard, dedicate ourselves to educating our kids. I can barely afford RENT |
| Wes Moore |
| Wes Moore is raising property tax from .54/$100 to $1.54/100. Inflation & interest rates |
| While I appreciate the intent behind a 1% raise, it does not offset the continued increase in healthcare costs. As I enter my 30th year of teaching, I find it more challenging than ever to financially support my family. A 1% raise does not reflect my level of work commitment. |
| While the yearly average inflation rate is ~3.2%, in years such as 2021 and 2022, rates reached 6.5% or higher, outpacing WCPS average pay increases nearly sevenfold. This reflects decreased spending power for consistent quality. |
| Why 1% is not enough… —My wife and I want to start a family, but we are going to struggle with the cost of healthcare. —My pay only covers our mortgage. Everything else is covered by my wife’s pay who is a teacher in Frederick Co. —I have earned 2 Bachelor’s degrees and a Master’s degree, but I earn less than a majority of those with 1 degree. —I want to stay here for my whole career because I love my school, but PAYCUTS and RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS will push me to take my talents elsewhere in the state. |
| Why do educators constantly have to fight to prove their worth? 1% is a slap in the face. I have to take on extra work to make ends meet! 1% is shameful. 25/26 increases for my family: groceries, gas, utilities, mortgage, insurance |
| Will have to get a 3rd job just to keep up with the cost of living. |
| With 3 kids, 1% is not enough. I cannot afford groceries and have house payment and with gas rising, struggling to meet the needs of basic essentials is tough. |
| With everything going up in price, I need affordable insurance. |
| With increased insurance rates… a paycut w/ only 1% is NOT acceptable! Value education. Value your employees! |
| With the cost of benefits increasing, we are getting paid “less”… not worth working here for some! |
| With the cost of insurance going up, 1% is not enough. I have 2 kids and the cost of things keep going up for them as well. Please increase more than 1%. |
| With the economy the way it is and no signs of changing anytime soon, the cost of living will definitely increase and 1% won’t cove that increase. |
| With the price of health insurance going up as well as gas, food and many other costs a one percent raise is not enough to cover basic needs. |
| With the rising cost of gas, groceries, and basic essentials – 1% is not enough! With student loan payments starting again – that is another layer. I’m single and one income is tough. 1% is not enough! |
| With the rising cost of living and increase in health care costs, a 1% raise is a slap in the face! We will actually be taking a 9% pay cut, which means we will be making less a year. My husband and I both work for WCPS and we live paycheck to paycheck already. We have been employed by WCPS for 18 years and have only received a COLA. First year teachers are almost matching my current salary! You are asking teachers and ESP to run elsewhere to jobs that demand less and offer more money. I hope you are prepared to lose the people who have been here the longest! |
| Won’t be back next year |
| Won’t help pay for groceries. |
| Won’t pay for my gas to come to work or pay my insurance. |
| You can seriously look at yourself in the mirror and think that you deserve an 8% raise considering on most weeks you don’t even see a student. Then you think only teachers deserve 1% who work with students daily… You should be ashamed of yourself! |
| You will NEVER be able to convince me that your VOLUNTEER. OFFICE. JOB. is worth 8%, but we as teachers & ESP should only get 1% |
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