Board approves new teacher contract
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Eudora Board of Education voted tonight to approve a new negotiated agreement and salary schedule for teachers during the 2008-09 contract year. The terms of the agreement were ratified by teachers earlier in the week.
"This is an outstanding achievement for our board and our teachers," said board member Brenda Clark, one of the board's representatives during the negotiations process. "Our district has great teachers, and this agreement is yet another way to demonstrate the board's commitment to making Eudora Schools a great place for teachers to work."
ENEA co-president Bob Sailler added that the teachers were pleased with both the agreement and the negotiations process that led to it.
"The board and the ENEA worked well together to come to a fair settlement," he said. "We appreciate the cooperative efforts of the administration to improve teacher compensation and ensure that high-quality teachers will be motivated to remain in Eudora. There has been a spirit of cooperation this year that we plan to continue into the upcoming years. Together, we can achieve more."
Terms of the agreement were made public following the ratification by both parties. Highlights include:
- Base salary goes from $32,600 to $34,400. Compensation between columns increases. Teacher raises range from approximately five percent to approximately 15 percent, depending on years of service and level of education.
- Health insurance defined benefit increases $10 per month to a $260 monthly benefit.
- Total allowance for college tuition reimbursement increases $400 per year to a total of $1,000.
- Summer school instructional pay will increase from $15 per hour to the hourly rate on the MS+0 salary step (step 10).
- Language also was added or adapted in the new negotiated agreement for the current mentor program and Professional Development Council, as well as added professional leave allowances for ENEA representatives.
"This is a tremendous opportunity," said Don Grosdidier, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. "The new agreement encourages teachers to pursue additional education and allows the district to attract the best very best teachers, no matter what point they're at in their career."
