Wayne-Westland Community School District staff presented a proposed three-year contract intended to raise pay and retain staff, saying the agreement includes immediate retroactive pay once the board ratifies the agreement.

The district outlined a 5% base raise in year one, 4% in year two and 3% in year three. District staff estimated the cost to the district at about $6.2 million for the first year, $5.6 million in year two and $4.2 million in year three. "The whole thought behind that we were negotiating was to provide a contract that was gonna be, competitive," the assistant superintendent for human resources said. "The whole thought was we wanted to retain and attract people to the district."

Board members were told the contract also moves every eligible employee one step on the salary scale each year and is retroactive "so the moment we ratify the contract, the teachers are gonna get their money from the previous months that we were negotiating." District staff said the contract includes expanded longevity payments, a new one-time "loyalty" bonus, changes to extra-duty ("rider") calculations and the absorption of certain early-childhood staff into the EA salary schedule.

Why it matters: the package, if approved by the board, would increase recurring personnel costs and change pay and placement for specific employee groups. District staff said the changes are intended to make Wayne-Westland more competitive with nearby districts and to retain and recruit employees.

Key provisions and details

- Raises and steps: 5% (year 1), 4% (year 2), 3% (year 3); staff said each year employees also receive one step on the salary scale.

- Estimated fiscal impact: district staff estimated $6,200,000 (year 1), $5,600,000 (year 2) and $4,200,000 (year 3).

- Longevity bonuses: raised from previous levels to $2,000 for 15–19 years of service, $3,000 for 20–24 years, and $4,000 for 25+ years.

- Loyalty bonus: a one-time $2,000 payment for graduates of Wayne-Westland who are hired by the district, presented as an incentive to "promote from within."

- Riders/extra duty: the base used to calculate extra-duty payments was increased progressively (district staff listed calculation bases rising from $45,000 to $48,500 and then to $50,000 over contract years) and some activities were assigned higher percentage rates.

- Early childhood (ECE) staff: 15 staff members from the Stoudemire early childhood site were moved onto the EA (education assistant) salary schedule; staff said comparable neighboring districts had made similar moves.

- Discipline and grievance language: the proposed contract includes discipline language tied to a "just cause" standard; staff said that raises the bar a district must meet in grievance/arbitration forums.

Board discussion and follow-up

Board members asked about enrollment and alignment with district policies for McKinney-Vento and foster-care start dates; one member asked that the contract language on student enrollment (students enrolled before noon start the following day; enrolled after noon start the second school day) match district policy, and staff said they would "make a note of that." Board members also asked how evaluation criteria will be finalized; staff said the district would work with union representatives and assessment staff to set instructional criteria and a rubric in coming months.

Staff said the teacher bargaining unit (EA membership and the GSRP group now folded into the EA contract) had already voted and "it was a resounding support of the contract," and that district leadership planned to present the agreement formally to the board at the next business meeting for ratification. The contract had not been signed by the board at the time of the workshop.

What the board will decide next

District staff asked the board to take up ratification at the next regular meeting; union members already voted to accept the agreement. If the board ratifies, staff said retroactive pay would be issued to covered employees for the negotiated period. The district will also begin negotiating remaining contracts with other bargaining groups over the coming months, staff said.

Ending note

District leaders framed the agreement as a multiyear package designed to stabilize staffing costs, reduce class sizes in some places and align early childhood staff pay with neighboring districts. The board requested staff ensure policy alignment on enrollment and complete discussions on the evaluation rubric before final board action.