Teachers, Board Getting Closer To Agreement
The Wolf Point Education Association and Wolf Point School District appear to be closing to a contract agreement after their collective bargaining meeting on Thursday, May 22.
“I’m encouraged from the standpoint we’re looking at things the same way,” Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins said near the end of the meeting.
The proposal made by the school district includes a 3 percent salary increase for 2025-2026, a 2 percent salary increase for 2026-2027 and a 2 percent increase for 2027-2028.
Requirements for the new STARS funding include that the base salary must be 62 percent of the district’s average teachers’ salary for the first year of 2025-2026. That 62 percent figures increases by 2 percent each following year until reaching 70 percent.
The proposal made by the school district puts the percent figure at 70 percent from the start. “If you aren’t, it’s going to be a hassle for the next five years,” Perkins said of going to 70 percent right away.
Under STARS, the base pay needs to be 11 times the Quality Education Payment, which is currently $3,783, or 70 percent of the teacher average pay in the district.
After holding a caucus, the teachers’ union returned with another salary proposal. That salary schedule calls for an increase of 6 percent in 2025-2026, 3 percent for 20262027 and 3 percent for 2027-2028.
The proposal also includes annual longevity pay of $2,000 for teachers with 10 or more years of continuous service in Wolf Point, $2,500 for 15 or more years and $3,000 for 20 or more years.
The school board decided to review the numbers before making a decision or a counter-proposal.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 2, starting at 5;30 p.m.
