Salina teachers, classified staff will get pay raises in 2023-24. Here's what to know

Teachers and staff at Salina Public Schools will receive higher pay and a larger employer-paid health contribution, among other incentives, after the district's board of education approved a handful of changes for the 2023-24 school year.

As part of the annual raises negotiated with National Education Association-Salina, the district approved a 3.57% increase to the base salary and step movement under the salary schedule. With the unofficial changes, the average increase for all staff is projected to be 5% for the upcoming school year.

In early June, the district and NEA-Salina settled contract negotiations that included the increase in pay and adjustments to work conditions for teachers and staff. On July 11, the board of education officially approved these measures, but they still await official ratification from NEA-Salina later this month.

Among other changes, Salina Public Schools increased its employer-paid health insurance contribution by $20 per month, from $520 to $540 per month.

"I appreciate your work, your department's work and especially NEA Salin's commitment to... coming up to amicable solutions," board member Gabe Grant said Tuesday. "I think the term 'best place to learn and work' came up throughout those discussions and that was really the heart of us negotiating this year. I appreciated the spirit from both sides."

These changes piggyback on a retention incentive pay plan the district approved for a second time earlier this year. Available to eligible staff in regular, ongoing positions, the up to $1,500 retention incentive pay plan is funded by federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief dollars.

Changes to salary and work conditions for certified staff

Along with small changes and references to statutes, here's the list of changes approved in a 7-0 vote Tuesday by the USD 305 Board of Education:

• The addition of $1,500 to the base of the certified salary schedule (now $43,500) and step movement.

• Removed a sunset clause (or a date of expiration) to the provision that allows for working off-site on workdays.

• Added an exception to the blackout day rule for the use of PTO to attend funerals.

• Increased paid parental leave from five days to 10 days.

• Added new category of leave for bereavement, affording staff two paid days of leave for the death of certain family members.

• Added a special salary for school counselors of $2,000.

• Increased the employer paid health contribution by $20 to $540/month.

• Added a provision clarifying that employees will have access to any notes or files containing information used by an administrator to support formal disciplinary decisions.

• Added a provision for procedures prior to a student's return to class after an incident of gross behavior.

These changes in the list above were also approved to be adopted in the district's Handbook for Retired Certified Teachers.

Changes to salary and work conditions for classified/professional technical staff and substitutes

Here are the changes unanimously approved by the Board for classified staff in 2023-24:

Classified employees including administrative office personnel, education office personnel, instructional support staff, maintenance and operations and food service

• 3.57% added to the base of the classified salary schedule ($12.35 to $12.79 per hour) with step movement.

• Increase monthly employer-paid health insurance contributions by $20 per month for eligible employees.

Professional/technical employees

• 3.57% added to the base of the pro/tech salary schedule ($38,785 to $40,170) with step movement.

• Increase monthly employer-paid health insurance contributions by $20 per month for eligible employees.

Head Start teachers

• 3.57% added to the base pay ($42,000 to $43,500) with step movement.

• Increase monthly employer-paid health insurance contributions by $20 per month for eligible employees.

Substitutes

Subs will see a 3.57% increase in pay across the board, making the rates for:

• Classified substitutes: $11.81/hour

• Food service substitutes: $12.52/hour

• Bus driver substitutes: $13.69/hour

• Maintenance substitutes: $13.69/hour

• Bilingual education support substitutes: $14.11/hour

• Emergency substitutes: $14.95/hour

• Standard substitutes: $18.34/hour

• Long-term substitutes: $20.39/hour

Changes to salary and benefits for administrators

The board also unanimously approved the following changes for administrators in the district:

• 3.57% added to base pay with step movement.

• Increase monthly employer-paid health insurance contributions by $20 per month for eligible employees.

The board also adjusted Superintendent Linn Exline's contract salary for the 2023-24 school year to account for the average step movement and cost of living percentage raise given to all faculty and staff.

Reorganization of the USD 305 Board of Education

The board unanimously elected Jim Fletcher to serve as president for the 2023-34 school year. The motion was made by Gabe Grant and seconded by Bonnie Schamberger.

"I would like to take just a minute and thank you for the last year of service as president of the board," Fletcher said to Ann Zimmerman on Tuesday.

The board unanimously elected Gabe Grant to serve as vice president for the 2023-34 school year. The motion was made by Dana Kossow and seconded by Mark Bandré.

Online enrollment open for Salina Public Schools

As of July 11, online enrollment for Salina Public Schools is open. There will be a walk-in enrollment July 25 at Salina Central High School for families who may need assistance or have questions. The first day of school at USD 305 is Aug. 11.

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter for the Salina Journal since 2022. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Higher pay, other 2023-24 incentives approved by Salina USD 305 board