AUGUSTA — The school board unanimously approved a new two-year contract with teachers Wednesday.
The contract includes raises for teachers, though the size of the pay increase varies based upon which “step” of the contract teachers have reached.
Salary steps within a contract generally reflect different, escalating levels of pay, based upon work experience and education.
Jan Murphy, president of the union local representing teachers, the Augusta Education Association, said teachers at some steps received larger pay increases than others, as part of an overall effort in negotiations to try to move Augusta to be more competitive with other local school districts in what it pays teachers.
She said the union did a comparison of salary and benefits with other local school districts and found that Augusta paid much less, at some steps, than other school districts did.
Murphy, who is a speech-language therapist at Hussey Elementary School, said the school board and the administration recognized that as a problem and worked to bring salaries up.
School board members said Wednesday negotiators on both sides worked hard with each other on the contracts.
“It seems like the best resolution came forward,” said Staci Fortunato, Ward 1 board member. “I feel like we built a new foundation. I’m proud of this contract and I support it.”
The contract negotiated between the union and the school district will cover the current school year and the 2018-2019 school year, according to Murphy. She said the previous contract expired last August, so teachers have been working without a contract this year.
Murphy said before the vote that Augusta’s salaries, with the new contract, will be closer to being competitive than they were before.
“While there is an increase in salaries, there is still more work to be done so Augusta is competitive,” she said. “The (Augusta Education Association) appreciates the work with the board in taking steps to be a little more competitive.”
City officials made similar efforts this year to raise some employees’ pay, including police officers’, with a goal of becoming more competitive with other municipalities in pay.
Teachers ratified the contract April 11, with 98 percent voting in favor of the new deal, Murphy said.
School board members voted 6-0 to ratify it following no debate Wednesday.
“We worked together. We all want what’s best for Augusta,” said Chris Clarke, Ward 2 board member.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
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