St. Charles Teachers To Receive 2.8-Percent Raise Next Year

Teachers and other professional staff members in the City of St. Charles School District will receive an average 2.8-percent raise next year. 

On March 10, members of the City of St. Charles Board of Education approved the contract agreement between the district and the St. Charles Education Association (SCEA), the union which represents certified staff members including teachers, counselors and other professionals. 

The members of the negotiations team approved the professional agreement Feb. 25. The agreement was ratified by 30 of the 31 people who attended the SCEA meeting soon after, said Jeff Marion, assistant superintendent of human resources. The district employs about 455 full-time equivalent certified staff who will be affected by the agreement, Marion said. 

Both members of the board and teachers on the negotiating team said they were pleased with the negotiations this year.

"Many districts are not able to have this kind of an agreement right now," said Jim O'Dell, a science teacher at St. Charles West High School and member of the negotiations team. "In these times, it's all you can hope for."

District teachers are paid on a scale that takes into account both their years of experience and level of education. The overall pay scale won't change much next year. The last time the entire scale was increased was during the 2008-09 school year, Marion said. 

Next year, teacher pay will range from $35,855 for a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree to $80,512 for someone who has a doctorate and 20 years experience.

Teachers will be able to advance to a higher "step" on the scale, with an average pay increase of 2.8 percent. Last year, teachers received a "step" on the scale which was an average 2.5-percent pay increase. 

The highest "step" was given a $1,190 increase for next year to help compensate for the increased amount taken out of teacher's paychecks for retirement. Next year, 14.5 percent of Missouri teacher's pay will go into the Public School Retirement System.

The district expects to spend $23.3 million on salaries next year, an increase of $785,770 from the current school year. 

In addition to discussing raises, the teachers raised questions about employees' ability to easily use personal days. Teachers weren't able to take personal days on professional development committee days, which were typically held on Fridays. This caused problems for people who wanted to leave town for a wedding, O'Dell said. 

Next year, certified staff will not be able to take personal days before or after winter and spring break. No more than three certified employees in one building can take personal leave on one day. 

"It had become so many restrictions, so much to keep track of, we agreed to take all the restrictions off, but have no more than three people out at once to simplify it," Marion said.

In addition, professional staff may have more of a voice on the district calendar committee. Staff members will be surveyed before the calendar committee starts working to identify concerns. 

O'Dell said the interest-based bargaining approach the district uses works well. The negotiating team comes with concerns and the group works to find mutually acceptable solutions. 

"It was a rewarding experience for everyone," said board member Dale Hallemeier.

Negotiations around the contract for support staff are scheduled to begin March 14.