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Board approves multi‑year contracts and 5% annual increases for staff
Summary
Board approved two‑year contracts for classified and certified employees (effectively ~5% per year including steps/COLA), exempt contracts with similar increases, and a three‑year superintendent contract with a 5% annual raise and a reallocated cell‑phone stipend into a 403(b) contribution.
Echo School District 5's board approved a suite of employee contracts and compensation changes covering classified, certified and exempt staff as well as a three‑year contract for the superintendent.
Classified employees received a two‑year agreement that staff described as a total 5% increase over two years (3% cost‑of‑living adjustment and roughly 2% step increases). The agreement also adjusts safety and return‑to‑work bonuses (safety award from $100 to $150; a $300 return‑to‑work bonus in October) and maintains current insurance eligibility limitations for hourly employees because of cost concerns.
Certified staff contracts were approved with a structure of a 2% step for experience plus a 3% COLA each year (effectively 5% annual movement for eligible teachers). For teachers at the top of the schedule, the contract provides longevity payments (example: $500 plus $100 per year up to $1,000) in lieu of step increases.
Exempt employee contracts (administrators) were described as matching the same 5% pattern; board members discussed moving a prior cell‑phone stipend into a 403(b) contribution. The board also approved a three‑year superintendent contract with a 5% annual increase and the reallocation of the cell‑phone payment into the 403(b).
Superintendent summarized key points on classified contracts: “We agreed to a 5% total increase over the 2 years each year, 3% COLA, and 2% on the steps, which is already built in.” The board approved the contracts by voice votes across items.
