Higher Wages Are Needed To Keep Workers Out of Poverty: Orlando Sentinel Opinion Page

My Word Column by Wendy L. Doromal
Published in The Orlando Sentinel, December 14, 2015

The Orlando Sentinel reported on Dec. 6 that more than 350,000 people live in poverty in Central Florida, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. The overall poverty rate for the four-county region that includes Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties is 16.2 percent. That figure represents a 4.5 percentage-point increase from five years ago.

This news appears to be in contrast to reports that the unemployment rate for the four-county region is consistently falling. Although the job rate has grown in Central Florida, most of the job growth has been in the tourism and service industries, which typically offer lower-paying jobs with part-time hours and no benefits.

Sadly, 25 percent of the children under the age of 18 in Orange and Osceola counties live in poverty. As an educator, I know that student success is not just determined by what takes place within the four walls of a classroom, but also by circumstances that extend beyond the school to the home and community.

Poverty wages hurt families, and they hurt children. More than half of our community's students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and 3,200 homeless children attend Orange County Public Schools. A fair wage for every community member would mean a higher quality of life for all students and their families.

When we think of Orlando's employers who are notorious for paying low wages, fast-food restaurants or theme parks may come to mind. But even Orange County Public Schools, Orlando's second-largest employer, is part of the poverty-wage problem. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Walmart employees all have a higher starting pay than many of the dedicated OCPS educational staff professionals. Thousands of these OCPS employees must work second and third jobs and frequent food banks.

The starting pay for these employees ranges from $8.10 to $14.54 for the first 12 pay grades of their 18-level pay-grade schedule, which is based on job descriptions. Even after working five years in their positions, the OCPS employees on the first 12 levels will not earn $15 an hour.

Loyal and committed OCPS bus drivers, custodians, security guards, cafeteria workers, receptionists, secretaries, clerks and paraprofessionals work every school day, contributing to student achievement. Still, they are under-valued and underpaid. Even many employees in positions requiring higher education or technical training are paid less than $15 an hour for their first five years of employment with OCPS. Orange County Public Schools can and must do better; our community can and must do better.

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