It is a shame that in this country people are not paid based on the importance of their job.

If that were the case, teachers would actually get what they deserve.

Teaching is one of the most important professions there is and, yet, it is not a career that pays a large salary.

Teachers by and large work very hard to ensure our children have the knowledge, self confidence and ambition they need to fulfill their personal and professional dreams.

Outside of parents, they are the ones who spend the most time with our children.

They often work long, thankless hours knowing that while they won’t ever be rich, they are enriching the lives of this country’s most important resource: its children.

That is why we are happy to see that the Brandywine Community Schools Board of Education finally came to terms on a new contract for the district’s teachers.

The three-year contract includes a 2-percent increase in salary — the largest raise the teachers have had in many years according to the teachers’ union.

The contract also includes better dental/vision plans and provides longevity payments for teachers whose years of experience go beyond the district’s top salary steps.

It is good to see that longtime teachers will not have their compensation capped any longer.

The teachers’ last contract expired in June, meaning the teachers were working under the old contract for more than a month as negotiations continued toward this conclusion.

It is good to know that they won’t have to worry about a contract any longer and that they can focus solely on their very important job: teaching Brandywine’s children.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.