Teachers in the St. Joseph Public Schools are getting a raise this year. Superintendent Ann Cardon says they’re in the middle of a three-year contract, and the negotiations over the past few months were just for the wage opener.
“We have great teachers in our district; we’re really fortunate,” Cardon told the school board Monday night. “It felt so good to actually be able to give them an increase. They deserve it, we’re happy to give it to them. I wish we could give them more.”
Teachers will receive a 2% raise along with their normal STEP increases. Those who aren’t eligible for the STEP increase will receive a $1,000 off-schedule payment. When asked after the meeting, Cardon couldn’t remember the last time teachers in the district received a base salary raise like this, noting it had been at least a few years. The teachers union ratified the agreement a few weeks ago, and the school board voted unanimously to approve it Monday night. The current contract is a three-year deal that took effect in the 2016-17 school year.
