MONROE - Teachers in the Monroe school district will be getting a raise in compensation of more than 3.5 percent each year over the next two years under a contract agreement reached by the district and the teachers' union.
The contract calls for a 3.62 percent increase for the 2009-2010 school year compensation package, with an increase of 3.73 percent to follow for the 2010-2011 school year. The package includes wages and benefits.
In addition, the settlement between the Monroe Education Association (MEA) and the district includes a change to a different health plan for MEA members, resulting in a decrease of more than 11 percent in the cost of health insurance premiums.
"The MEA and district worked hard to achieve a positive resolution and a satisfactory settlement for both parties," Kelly Burns, MEA co-president and negotiations chairman, said in a press release issued jointly with the school district.
"Both the district and the association recognized the current economic impact on our community and in schools across the state. We were able to reach a settlement at less than what the traditional baseline package settlements have been and will be able to see ongoing health insurance savings in future years," Superintendent Larry Brown said in the release.
"The board and the association discussed our current economy and the likelihood of a future referendum and were able to come up with a settlement that kept those factors in mind." he said.
The previous teacher contract called for a 3.8 percent increase in salary for the 2007-2008 school year and an additional 3.8 percent increase for the 2008-2009 school year.
The base pay for beginning teachers was $30,193 under the existing contract year; that rate will increase to $31,277 for this school year and $32,210 next year.
Teachers' pay increases are based on years of experience as well as education level. The pay scale currently maxes out at $59,995 for a teacher with a master's degree, plus 36 additional credits and 16 years of experience, according to Ron Olson, business manager for the district.
The new monthly premiums for health insurance will be $628 for single coverage and $1,418 for family coverage. Of that, the employee pays about 10 percent and the district pays about 90 percent, Brown said.
Burns and Pam Wyss, chairman of the school board's negotiation committee, said the contract is a positive for both groups.
"We believe the change in insurance benefits and corresponding reduction in health insurance premiums can provide a win-win situation for the district and association. The change in health insurance will provide savings for the district in future years and helped free up some dollars for wage increases in the current settlement that otherwise would not have been possible," they said in the release.
Under the terms of a two-year contract approved in December 2008, support staff received a pay increase of 2.8 increase for the 2008-2009 school year and an increase of 1.9 percent for this school year. That contract covers about 145 full- and part-time employees. The base rate for support staff is $11.08 per hour.
Brown said the district and MASS, the support staff union, are due to begin work on the next two-year contract soon.
This summer, district administration voluntarily went without a pay increase, saying it was a response to the difficult economic times plaguing the area and local taxpayers. School administrators work under a yearly contract.
The contract calls for a 3.62 percent increase for the 2009-2010 school year compensation package, with an increase of 3.73 percent to follow for the 2010-2011 school year. The package includes wages and benefits.
In addition, the settlement between the Monroe Education Association (MEA) and the district includes a change to a different health plan for MEA members, resulting in a decrease of more than 11 percent in the cost of health insurance premiums.
"The MEA and district worked hard to achieve a positive resolution and a satisfactory settlement for both parties," Kelly Burns, MEA co-president and negotiations chairman, said in a press release issued jointly with the school district.
"Both the district and the association recognized the current economic impact on our community and in schools across the state. We were able to reach a settlement at less than what the traditional baseline package settlements have been and will be able to see ongoing health insurance savings in future years," Superintendent Larry Brown said in the release.
"The board and the association discussed our current economy and the likelihood of a future referendum and were able to come up with a settlement that kept those factors in mind." he said.
The previous teacher contract called for a 3.8 percent increase in salary for the 2007-2008 school year and an additional 3.8 percent increase for the 2008-2009 school year.
The base pay for beginning teachers was $30,193 under the existing contract year; that rate will increase to $31,277 for this school year and $32,210 next year.
Teachers' pay increases are based on years of experience as well as education level. The pay scale currently maxes out at $59,995 for a teacher with a master's degree, plus 36 additional credits and 16 years of experience, according to Ron Olson, business manager for the district.
The new monthly premiums for health insurance will be $628 for single coverage and $1,418 for family coverage. Of that, the employee pays about 10 percent and the district pays about 90 percent, Brown said.
Burns and Pam Wyss, chairman of the school board's negotiation committee, said the contract is a positive for both groups.
"We believe the change in insurance benefits and corresponding reduction in health insurance premiums can provide a win-win situation for the district and association. The change in health insurance will provide savings for the district in future years and helped free up some dollars for wage increases in the current settlement that otherwise would not have been possible," they said in the release.
Under the terms of a two-year contract approved in December 2008, support staff received a pay increase of 2.8 increase for the 2008-2009 school year and an increase of 1.9 percent for this school year. That contract covers about 145 full- and part-time employees. The base rate for support staff is $11.08 per hour.
Brown said the district and MASS, the support staff union, are due to begin work on the next two-year contract soon.
This summer, district administration voluntarily went without a pay increase, saying it was a response to the difficult economic times plaguing the area and local taxpayers. School administrators work under a yearly contract.