A view into the financial life of Lee County school teachers

Reporter: Claire Galt Writer: Rachel Murphy
Published: Updated:

Lee County school teachers say they’re still not ready to call a contract strike, but they continue to reach out to WINK News to show how hard it is for them to make ends meet.

Brigette Rivette teaches second grade at Franklin Park Elementary. Her annual salary is $48,500.
After taxes and other deductions, Brigette said she takes home $3276.72 a month.

Here’s how she spends it each month:

  • Rent – $925
  • Water – $100
  • Electricity – $350
  • Phone bill – $150
  • Car insurance – $180
  • Car payment – $390
  • Credit cards – $250
  • Child’s dance class – $40
  • Internet – $80
  • Doctor bills for her pregnancy – $300
  • Netflix/Disney/Amazon – $30

What’s left is $481.72. Gas isn’t on the list, nor are tolls or anything extra or emergency funds. Food is not on the list either because, Rivette said, she gets a lot of it from food banks.

“I really want to stay. I want to make a way or find a way to make it work, but it’s getting scarier and scarier,” said Rivette. “It’s really heartbreaking because you don’t want to leave, but it’s like you kind of are getting forced to.”

Superintendent Doctor Christopher Bernier has refused to talk about teacher pay and the ongoing teacher shortage, but he did address the district’s teachers during Wednesday’s school board workshop.

“This board is committed to them and to finding a pathway forward within a balanced budget to try to give them the compensation that they believe they deserve and we feel that they have earned,” said Bernier.

Bernier went on to say because the district and the teachers union are in contract talks, it would be inappropriate for him to say anything more.

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