HOPE — The Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Board had a public hearing for the Master Contract with the teachers association on Tuesday.
In this contract, the board has settled on a one year agreement to give all teachers a $1,500 increase to their base pay, a 3% increase to their health insurance and a $150 additional on the base for any teacher that has a literacy endorsement.
A literacy endorsement is a credential for teachers that is added to their existing license showing that they have advance knowledge and skills in literacy instruction.
This contract has not yet been enacted, because the school board must have it ratified and approved. This will be considered at the board’s next meeting on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at 220 Raymond St., Hope.
“We wish we could do even more, our teachers work hard and they deserve that, but we have to live within the resources that we have,” said Shawn Price, Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp.’s superintendent. “We’ve had success moving the needle each year… Our enrollment was pretty stable this year, so that helped us be able to give this increase.”
Price said that during the bargaining session, the teachers had a well represented team and there were a lot of good ideas shared and discussions of what they may try to do in the future.
He believes that everyone left the session pleased with the direction they were heading. It was a very collaborative effort between the teachers and the board.
“We want to stay competitive with those around us and we want to do what we can for those teachers that are with us and stay in our corporation,” Price said.
