Teacher package decided last year

Wages for all Gothenburg Public School staff will rise but not as much as last year.

At their meeting Monday night, District 20 board members approved salary and benefit increases for non-certificated staff and administrators.

Teacher salaries and benefits were negotiated in a two-year contract between the board and the Gothenburg Education Association during the summer of 2012.

Non-certificated employees, or staff without teaching certificates, will see a 3.09% increase in salary and benefits.

Head negotiator and school board vice president Nate Wyatt said compensation is based on job category subgroups and compared to others performing similar work.

The raise, for 2013-14, compares to a 4.4% increase last year.

Administrators received a 2.41% increase compared to a 3.76% boost in 2012-13.

Wyatt said administrator pay and benefits are decided in a similar manner and by comparability with schools of similar size.

“I think we’re in line with what the market dictates with area schools of similar sizes,” Wyatt said. “We’re proud of the staff and what they do to help kids.”

The teaching staff will get a 4.42% increase for 2013-14 compared to the 4.8% raise they received last year. Base pay, for beginning teachers, is $32,400.

Wyatt said teacher compensation was calculated using certified staff who were employed by the district in March of 2013.

Board members Lisa Geiken and Amber Burge are also on the negotiation team.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Teahon said salary and benefit negotiations for the next year will begin after the budget is approved in September.

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