NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The two sides have agreed on a contract for USD 308's teachers for this year, but the union has not voted on it yet.
"The board and the HNEA group did come to a consensus and agreement on some items to change the professional agreement," said Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson. "Now, the teachers union will need to gather and vote on that. Their policy is a 50 percent plus one number. When they reach that number, if they reach that number, then it will go to the board and the board will ratify that and then it will become part of policy for the district."
If approved by both sides, the base salary will increase $669, bringing the new base salary to $42,000. Teachers will also receive horizontal and vertical movement for next year, making the overall raise between 3% and 3.5% for all certified faculty and staff. Other items in the agreement were a parental leave provision for childbirth, adoption, and fostering; and a one-time premium pay of $750 from the USD 308’s ESSER funds, a stipend for Continuing Education Credits for social workers; and increases to portions of the supplemental salary schedule. Last year, an agreement was not reached until almost Halloween and a mediator had to be called in.
"It was very late in the year, so this is very exciting," Johnson said. "I think in three meetings we were able to come to some compromises. They're on summer vacation, so getting them together is pretty hard to do right now."
The hope is to have everything ratified on both sides before teachers report to school for professional development August 9.