HOPE — The Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. has set a two-year contract with its teachers’ union.
The 2023-25 collective bargaining agreement has been ratified by the Flat Rock-Hawcreek Teachers Association, and the school board approved it on Oct. 30, said Superintendent Shawn Price.
When asked how much of a raise the contract will provide, Price replied, “…8.4% here in the first year collectively, and then estimated next year — and it all depends on the staffing — but we’re looking at next year being around another 2.5 to 3%.”
There are 63 teachers are impacted by the contract, which runs through June of 2025, he said.
According to a summary provided by Price, the agreement adds $3,000 to each line of the salary scale in 2023-24.
“For returning teachers, those that had an evaluation with us from last year, coming back, actually get a level move on our scale, which actually means another $1,200,” Price said. “So $4,200 across the board for returning teachers.”
In regards to the evaluation piece, he said that salary increases cannot be given to teachers who are not considered effective.
For 2023-24, the new starting salary is $44,000, and the new maximum salary is $77,200 thanks to the addition of a new step at the top of the scale.
This year’s changes are retroactive, Price said.
Then, in 2024-25, $2,000 will be added to each line of the scale, meaning salaries will range from $46,000 to $79,200.
“Either party may reopen the contract during the 2024 bargaining period if the legislature appropriates additional dollars to public schools,” FRHC officials said.
Other changes to the contract include 10 days of paid parental leave for a new child. Price said this is a new provision that provides leave regardless of gender. He explained that, historically, teachers seeking paid maternity leave — or leave for adoption or fostering — have had to use their own sick days or the sick leave bank. The new addition, however, will provide corporation-funded days that are not part of an employee’s sick days.
Additionally, the agreement summary states that teachers injured on the job who must miss work will not lose pay during the first week of their required absence.
