Highland board approves teacher contract adding roughly $2,013 to base pay and 2.7% classified raise

The School Town of Highland board voted Oct. 28 to approve a teacher collective bargaining agreement and to raise classified and administrative salaries by roughly 2.7%.

Superintendent (S2) told the board the contract negotiating team set aside $300,000 to be divided among 149 qualifying teachers, which the superintendent said equates to about $2,013 added to each qualifying teacher's base salary. He also said the contract requires an addition of $250 to base pay for any teacher who attains the literacy endorsement required for certain elementary teachers, and that a second-year minimum increase of $1,000 will be considered depending on new funding.

"We had a pot of money of $300,000 for the school year," the superintendent said, describing the division and additional literacy endorsement pay.

Board members commended the collaborative negotiations and expressed regret that available funds limited the increase. One trustee described the agreement as essentially meeting the cost of living, while administration explained the district reached the pot of money through modest state new money and staffing reductions since prior years.

Separately, the board approved a classified and administrative salary increase of about 2.7% (presented as equivalent to the teacher increase), covering employee groups such as teacher aides, bus drivers, secretaries and lunch workers. Trustees approved the teacher contract and the classified pay recommendation by unanimous vote, 5-0.

Board members said they would continue monitoring district finances and state funding developments that could affect future negotiations.