Teacher Schedules

[mamac]

When I get asked "Do I have to pay during summer and breaks?" I say that I have several options available for teachers.

The options are:

#1 Yearly rate divided by 9 months, paid monthly. (NO attendance in summer)

This takes what they would pay over a 12 month period and instead of paying your normal weekly rate, they pay that plus a little extra.
(I save that extra and "pay" myself all summer.)

#2 One lump sum to hold their space. (NO attendance permitted without additional payment)
For example if your normally weekly rate is $150 or approx. $600 per month, I would charge them $450 for the month and enjoy the lighter work load for a little less money

#3 Attend a minimum of 3 days per week (if over 2 yrs old) and a minimum of 2 days a week (if under 2 yrs old) to hold their space.

I enjoy the lighter work load in the summer so I am willing to negotiate a bit for summer rates.

The last several years I have done nothing but straight payment 52 weeks a year but I am finding that as I age, I am a lot more willing to take a slight pay cut and not deal with the child at all for a few weeks/months plus I really enjoy the outside time in the summer months and having a lighter load of children enables us to do some things we don't normally do.


As for school breaks and holidays, that's on them. I already offer a flexible payment plan for summer, what more do they want?

I have paid holidays already and the few teacher workshops and such that there are, most my teachers work or bring their kids anyways so that has never been an issue.

HTH

Do you allow them to drop down to a regular PT rate (set days or varied) if they choose option 3 or do you charge as a drop-in rate?

Also, which option do they choose most often? Does anyone have an issue with option 2 where they want to stay a day here or there and have to pay more that the monthly fee? At what rate do you charge for the extra time? Drop-in, PT, or pro-rated based on their regular rate?

[Blackcat31]

Do you allow them to drop down to a regular PT rate (set days or varied) if they choose option 3 or do you charge as a drop-in rate?

If they choose option #3 and attend 3 days per week, the rate is the same as I would charge anyone else using 3 days per week.

Varying days each week is billed at a little bit of a higher rate than a set 3 days per week.

Once summer is over and they resume their normally 5 days a week attendance, their rate goes back to the regular full time rate they had before.

I only charge drop in rates for ADDITIONAL days or for those families that choose the partial payment to hold their space with NO attendance (Option #2).

[mamac]

If they choose option #3 and attend 3 days per week, the rate is the same as I would charge anyone else using 3 days per week.

Varying days each week is billed at a little bit of a higher rate than a set 3 days per week.

Once summer is over and they resume their normally 5 days a week attendance, their rate goes back to the regular full time rate they had before.

I only charge drop in rates for ADDITIONAL days or for those families that choose the partial payment to hold their space with NO attendance (Option #2).

Ok. We're on the same page then. I gave the same option to my first teacher dcm. After pondering what she would do while dcb was with me 3 days a week she decided she'd just get a pt job! .

I do like the idea of a smaller one lump sum option with no work though, especially after having this whole summer of with my boys. I'm not sure I'll want to work another summer again!

[Unregistered]

Teachers do not get paid over the summer.

My sister, the teacher, gets paid over the summer. She gets paid once a month every month of the year. Her salary is spread over the year. Perhaps they are given a choice about it, perhaps it is union negotiated for her area, but 12 checks per year.

[Familycare71]

Not to split hairs but teachers do not get paid FOR the summer. Teacher's get paid a salary based on the job. The job is 9 months long (although lots of planning happens in the summer too) and that is what the salary is based on. If teaching were 12 months long, the salary would have to be greater to compensate for the extra work time.

So teachers may choose to receive all their money during the year, or spread it out over the summer. But it's not money for doing nothing, it's the money the earned during the year just spread out.

I think this is what was being said .

This was my over all point . And no teacher I know gets paid over the summer months- but either way it is the same amount total...

[sharlan]

Actually, it's a choice for them. They can either get the higher pay during the year and no pay for the summer or choose to spread their payments out. At least around here that's how it goes.

Me personally, I offered half pay and they could come two days a week but I won't do that next summer. I will offer half pay but just to hold their spot. If they attend at all,I still expect full pay.

Some districts do that, others don't.

I liked the lighter load so I always welcomed teachers. I never guaranteed them a space come fall unless I had the kids part-time during the summer.

[CedarCreek]

Some districts do that, others don't.

I liked the lighter load so I always welcomed teachers. I never guaranteed them a space come fall unless I had the kids part-time during the summer.

That's why I said " around here that's how it goes"

[MissAnn]

Why should we feel we don't deserve to be paid over the summer because they aren't paid for summer? If we are comparing our pay with theirs, we should be getting medical and dental.

I have teachers pay 2 days/week to reserve their spot.

[e.j.]

If they want their spot to be guaranteed in the fall, they pay their regular rate during the summer to hold it. If they would rather not pay for the summer and risk the possibility that their child's spot will be filled over the summer, I'm willing to take them back in the fall if I have an opening. If I can fill their spot temporarily with someone who needs summer care only, I'm also willing to do that as long as the hours of care are comparable. Most who sign on with me choose to continue to pay for their spot and be guaranteed care in the fall. Based on their comments to me, they like having kid-free time to themselves to get yard work, housework, errands, etc... done.

[Josiegirl]

The rare times I've had a teachers' child, I never charged during the summer because I was always full with schoolagers coming back anyways.
If you don't usually take schoolagers, I like the idea of dividing up the 12 month rate into 9 months.

[dbslas]

We charge 1/2 rate during the summer for our teachers to hold the spot, and they may bring the child up to 4 hours each day (set times only - and we know in advance) If they want to bring the child over 4 hours, then we break down their full weekly rate to a daily rate and they pay the difference. The teacher we have now brings her child 2-3 half days a week so that she can get things done at home and also to keep her child in a routine and around other children. It has worked out very well.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I will not charge a teacher less for the summer. If they pull and I fill their spot, then that is that.

[momma2girls]

I like having summers light so I welcome teachers... I have found that if I charged them a holding fee they go else where. I always charge a two week deposit to be used for the two weeks they return to care.
When I did try to charge a two day a week min for the summer they always ended up bringing their kids those two days or not continuing/starting care.
It really depends I think on if you need the income in the summer or prefer having it off.

I charge 2 weeks to hold their spot during the summer also.

[Crazy8]

When I get asked "Do I have to pay during summer and breaks?" I say that I have several options available for teachers.

The options are:

#1 Yearly rate divided by 9 months, paid monthly. (NO attendance in summer)

This takes what they would pay over a 12 month period and instead of paying your normal weekly rate, they pay that plus a little extra.
(I save that extra and "pay" myself all summer.)

#2 One lump sum to hold their space. (NO attendance permitted without additional payment)
For example if your normally weekly rate is $150 or approx. $600 per month, I would charge them $450 for the month and enjoy the lighter work load for a little less money

#3 Attend a minimum of 3 days per week (if over 2 yrs old) and a minimum of 2 days a week (if under 2 yrs old) to hold their space.

I enjoy the lighter work load in the summer so I am willing to negotiate a bit for summer rates.

The last several years I have done nothing but straight payment 52 weeks a year but I am finding that as I age, I am a lot more willing to take a slight pay cut and not deal with the child at all for a few weeks/months plus I really enjoy the outside time in the summer months and having a lighter load of children enables us to do some things we don't normally do.


As for school breaks and holidays, that's on them. I already offer a flexible payment plan for summer, what more do they want?

I have paid holidays already and the few teacher workshops and such that there are, most my teachers work or bring their kids anyways so that has never been an issue.

HTH

I like your options!! I expected you to just say they have to pay regardless.

Like you, I like the lighter work load in the summers now as my kids get older, etc. It used to be all about the income but now I'd rather have the lighter load than the extra money (although its rather tight right now, LOL).

I offer the same as I do for maternity leave - 1/3rd rate OR care equal or greater than. I thought having a child come 1-2 days a week would be a nightmare but it hasn't been - they are all happy to come see their friends after a few days at home!

[Blackcat31]

I like your options!! I expected you to just say they have to pay regardless.
Like you, I like the lighter work load in the summers now as my kids get older, etc. It used to be all about the income but now I'd rather have the lighter load than the extra money (although its rather tight right now, LOL).

I offer the same as I do for maternity leave - 1/3rd rate OR care equal or greater than. I thought having a child come 1-2 days a week would be a nightmare but it hasn't been - they are all happy to come see their friends after a few days at home!

LOL! That's my rule for maternity leaves though..... When enrolling a new baby, there is no lighter load so in that case, they get a discounted week for older sibling so family can bond but other than that the space (for the infant) is paid for regardless of when they use it.

I can't afford to do 6 weeks of maternity leave....kwim?

I can for the infant but not the older sibling and I only take infants of families I already have in care.