Teachers in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. are expected to see an average salary increase of 8% this year and 3% next year under their new contract.
The school board voted Monday to approve the 2023-25 tentative agreement between BCSC and the Columbus Educators Association (CEA).
The association voted on the contract last week. According to CEA President Amy London, it passed with 97% of the vote. 341 out of 462 CEA members — or 74% — participated in voting, with 331 in favor and 10 against, she said.
The agreement impacts every teacher in BCSC, with London estimating that their numbers total 768.
According to materials provided by BCSC, the agreement adds $4,500 to each line on the salary schedule in 2023-24. This increases starting salary from $44,600 to $49,100 and moves the top of the scale from $83,600 to $88,100. The maximum salary, including referendum pay, increases from $90,000 to $94,500. Each teacher will remain on their current step this year.
The changes are retroactive to the start of the contract year, and it is estimated that the average salary increase is 8.3%.
“I’ve been here over 20 years and I don’t know that we’ve ever had that in one year,” London said. “So that’s a huge increase.”
Then, for 2024-25, the agreement will add $350 to each line on the schedule and all teachers will move up a step, provided they meet the necessary experience and evaluation criteria. Between the additional $350 and the step change, this will mean an increase of $1,850.
Additionally, the first salary line will be removed from the salary schedule, and an additional line will be added to the top. Starting salary will increase from $49,100 to $50,950, and the top of the scale will move from $88,100 to $89,950. Maximum salary, including referendum pay, will increase from $94,500 to $96,350.
It’s estimated that the average salary increase during the 2024-25 year will be 3%.
The system for referendum increases remains the same under the agreement. According to the previous collective bargaining agreement, increases are based on years of experience, with each year of BCSC experience counting for one point and each year of outside experience counting for a third of a point.
Teachers must also have received an evaluation rating of “effective” or “highly effective” for the prior year, unless the teacher “is in the first two (2) full school years of instructing students,” the agreement states.
BCSC officials have said in the past that the referendum increase levels are as follows:
- 5-9.9 points: $5,000 increase
- 10-14.9 points: $10,000 increase
- 15+ points: $15,000 increase
“If the total of the base contract and operating referendum payment exceed the maximum salary, the amount of the operating referendum payment will be reduced to the amount necessary to achieve the maximum salary,” the 2021-23 agreement states.
In addition to salary increases, the 2023-25 contract increases compensation for nonathletic extracurricular activities, extended contracts and athletic assignments by 8% this school year and 3% next year.
Additionally, teachers will be paid $30 an hour for working ticketed extracurricular events, and this same rate will apply to new teacher orientation.
Teachers will see no increase in health and dental premiums for the 2024 health plan year under the agreement.
Additionally, BCSC will contribute an additional $200,000 for the 2024 plan year, with the funds going to plan reserves if they decline. If reserves decline by $155,000 or less, the remaining amount will be distributed to the HSA for employees enrolled in Option 1.
Starting in the 2025 health plan year, any increase in premium will be split 50-50 between the school corporation and the employee.
BCSC officials have said that the collective bargaining agreement will require additional appropriations in both 2023 and 2024. It is also expected to result in deficit financing in 2024.
“In 2024, depending on ADM (Average Daily Membership) in (February) and (October) 2024, we estimate that our expenditures will exceed revenues by approximately $800k,” said Assistant Superintendent of Financial Services Chad Phillips. “… This will use a portion of the cash balance in the Education Fund in 2024 unless ADM exceeds our estimates.”
