Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. board members on Monday night will get the first look at the tentative collective bargaining agreement reached between the district and the local teachers’ union.
Board members will hear information about the tentative agreement between BCSC and the Columbus Educator’s Association (CEA) that, if approved, will last from 2025 through 2027. The board will consider ratification of the agreement during a meeting on Oct. 29.
Bargaining topics during negotiations surround how teachers are compensated, and do not include hours and job descriptions. Informal meetings on the new agreement began in May, with formal bargaining getting started on Sept. 17.
The tentative agreement was reached on Oct. 1 and approved by CEA vote on Oct. 9 and Oct. 10.
According to a slide presentation that will be shown during Monday’s school board meeting, teacher salaries will be increased $850 across the board in 2025-26, followed by another $1,500 increase in 2026-27, although that can’t exceed the maximum teacher salary of $96,350.
Teachers already at the maximum teacher salary receive a $500 stipend each year. Teachers each year can also earn a $150 literacy endorsement increase.
Starting salaries for teachers with no prior experience will remain the same as they currently are in 2025-26 at $50,950, but that will go to $51,800 in 2026-27.
Bargaining teams were made up of BCSC teachers Amy London, Mandy Keele, Scott Rayburn and Grace McDougall, along with Kristi Billings, a Beech Grove City Schools teacher who served as an Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) representative.
Board member Rich Stenner, District 2, BCSC Superintendent Chad Phillips, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Brett Boezeman and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Erin Stalbaum were on the negotiating team for the district.
The school board meeting on Monday will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Terrace Room at the BCSC administration building, 1200 Central Ave. It will also be live streamed as always on BCSC’s YouTube page.
