SBCSC, teachers' association reach pay increase agreement on Monday
SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- South Bend Community School Corporation teachers will receive a minimum base salary of $38,500 effective immediately, after receiving SBCSC Board of Trustees approval on Monday night.
The 2018-2019 minimum base salary is a $2,500 increase from the 2017-2018 base salary of $36,000. The South Bend National Education Association said this agreement is a huge step forward.
“I think it’s a great start,” said Linda Lucy, president of the South Bend NEA.
The NEA’s goals for the 2018-2019 collective bargaining agreement included:
- Addressing the pay ‘freeze’ teachers have expressed frustration about,*
- Raising the base to $40,000,
- Creating a new pay structure,
- Encouraging innovation and collaboration with stipends,
- And spending $3 million from ‘Fund Balance’ ($6 million over 2 years).*
Lucy said, in order to pay teachers money owed since August 1, the corporation will give back pay in one or two checks in December. Board of Trustees President Stan Wruble said the base salary should be more than $40,000.
“I think we as a state in Indiana have show that we don’t value teachers by not paying them enough,” he said.
South Bend teachers with five or more years of experience in the corporation will start at a $40,000 base salary. For SBCSC teachers employed for 5-15 years, raises will be $1,300.
SBCSC teacher employed for 20 or more years are eligible to receive $2,000 raises. However, the 2020 circuit breaker, which is causing budgets across the state to tighten, casts a shadow on future collective bargaining agreements.
“We are constrained by state budgets and we’re going to keep pushing as much as we can,” Wruble said. “I’m hopeful that after the most recent election season people in Indianapolis will be a little open to giving us more money.”
The starting salary for Penn-Harris-Madison teachers is $40,350. SBCSC Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Spells said they will be looking to compete soon.
“In January, we’ll address that,” he said. “We want to enjoy this tonight.”
*Notes the goals the Corporation and NEA accomplished in the 2018-2019 Collective Bargaining Agreement.