by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
A two-year teaching contract has been approved and signed by the Sartell-St. Stephen School Board at its May 21 meeting.
Teachers had approved the contract earlier – on May 14.
The contract calls for a 1.75-percent salary increase in the first year, 2011-12, and a 1.0-percent increase in the second year, 2012-13.
For the first year of the contract, a first-year teacher will earn a salary of $32,830 whereas a 20-year teacher with a master’s degree plus 30 extra graduate credits will earn $67,180.
For the second year of the contract, a starting teacher will earn $33,158 while a 20-year teacher with a master’s degree and 30 additional graduate credits will receive $67,852.
Teachers who have 20 or more years of service in the district will receive a longevity increase of $1,000 starting in 2011-12. The contract also calls for other compensation for teachers because of lane changes, awarded according to steps based on experience and training.
Insurance covered by the school district will remain the same for both years of the contract.
“We are very pleased to have come to a workable settlement with our teachers that reflects the professionalism of our team and the culture of expected excellence across our community,” said Superintendent Joe Hill. “We learned much from this process that will be refined as we move forward.”