The Plymouth School Board has approved the corporation’s master teacher contract for the current school year.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Superintendent Andy Hartley explained it includes a slight pay increase. “The contract this year includes language that will hopefully clarify our compensation model a bit more,” he said. “It also includes within that the generation of what money is available for bargaining, as well as the hiring of new teachers. It also includes some language that affords teachers the chance to carry over some of their unused personal days each year. Overall, it’s going to result in a $350 base salary increase for those who meet the eligibility requirements.” The base salary starts at just over $34,000 for new teachers.
The master contract was ratified by the Plymouth Education Association last week. PEA President Laura Kruyer said Tuesday that the $350 raise wasn’t much, but it was the best that could be done with the funding available. “The state is making it more and more difficult, when they have changed the funding formula, especially with the complexity index,” she said. “What it means for our rural schools – Marshall County is witnessing this right now – is that we’re getting less and less funding. And so part of the reason for us coming here tonight is to let the school board know that the Plymouth teachers, PEA, we’re here, we’re ready, we’re willing to start educating the public on this issue and fighting for our schools.”
Hartley added that the negotiation process was “professional.” “We established common goals, aspirations that we really do aspire to provide our teachers,” he said. “We appreciated everyone’s contributions to that.” Board members thanked everyone involved in the negotiations for their work.
