Oregon-Davis teachers are getting their first pay raises in over a decade. The 2019-2020 teacher contract was unanimously approved by the school board Monday, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
It raises teachers’ starting salary to $32,000. That’s an increase of over $1,400 from the current level, but far below what most other local school corporations are paying. Anyone currently making more than that will get a $1,100 increase. On top of that, teachers also get a one-time “loyalty stipend,” ranging from $200 to $3,200, based on their years of service at O-D.
Meanwhile, the contract includes a retirement incentive for up to three teachers. The school corporation is offering to cover the entire cost of their health insurance until they turn 65.
During a public hearing last month, concerns were raised that the contract doesn’t do enough for experienced teachers who aren’t near retirement age and that too much of the available funding was going to the retirement incentive. But in the end, Harman says the school board was on board with the contract as it was presented. “They just had some questions, but after some questions were answered, the board approved it 5-0,” he says.
The Oregon-Davis School Board also agreed to give more money to non-teaching staff. Harman says Elementary School Principal Bill Bennett is getting a $1,100 raise, to match those given to teachers. The school board also approved a one-time loyalty stipend for support staff, ranging from $250 to $600, based on years of experience.
