Teachers, School Officials Discuss Salary Proposals
Wolf Point Education Association president Patricia Toavs and Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools David Perkins discuss information.
The Wolf Point School Board and Wolf Point Education Association exchanged salary proposals during their collective bargaining meeting held last week.
School officials’ proposal attempted to follow the guidelines of Montana’s new STARS act that advanced when state legislators approved House Bill 252. The bill aims to provide $100 million for schools to recruit new teachers. To receive the state funds, school districts’ base salaries must be 62 percent of the district’s average teachers’ salary the first year and then the percentage must increase by 2 percent each year until 70 percent is reached.
According to school officials, the average teaching salary for the high school district would be $64,315 with a base salary being at $41,615 for the first year. At the elementary school district, the average salary would be $58,492 with a base salary of $41,615.
“It’s a puzzle, anyway you look at it,” Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools David Perkins said. “It’s not an easy puzzle either.”
Teachers’ union president Patricia Toavs said that it was helpful to receive the information regarding the average teaching salaries.
“It also paints the picture of how hard it will be to make it work,” Perkins said.
Education association members questioned if the STARS act would be a workable piece in the long run when the newer teachers’ salaries keep increasing. They don’t feel that the salary schedule should be changed greatly for something that might only last for two years.
If the school districts don’t meet the STARS’ requirements, the school district will still receive the quality education payment of about
Meeting
$3,750 per qualified educator.
School officials say if STARS is followed, it could mean receiving close to $300,000. But those funds aren’t only for salaries.
After examining the school board’s proposal since the last meeting, Toavs said the union is rejecting the proposal. She said the proposal would impact attainment levels to a high degree. “We’re willing to work with the district, but not at the cost of our attainment levels,” she said.
Perkins argued that he doesn’t feel the proposal changes much on the salary schedule except for the first three steps.
The Wolf Point Education Association’s proposal is for an increase of 8 percent of the base salary to $39,493 in the first year, an increase of 4 percent to $40,956 in the second year and an increase of 4 percent to $42,419 in the third year.
School board chair Roxanne
(Photo by Bill Vander Weele)
Gourneau said she is interested in the teachers’ proposal if she can be told a way that the funding is available. Toavs said that Poplar uses impact aid funds to help pay for teachers’ salaries. “Wolf Point has decided to put their impact aid in a savings account.”
Gourneau noted that the school districts have only one source of funding. In order to meet the demands of increased salaries, projects such as a new school or new track might have to be put on hold. “Show me a way,” Gourneau said.
Toavs said teachers have been told for a long time that no money is available. The school district used to have a grant writer and a maintenance plan for each school to schedule needed improvement in a timely manner.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the high school library.
