Negotiators on 2016-17 teaching contracts in Geary USD 475 have reached a tentative agreement.

Cathy Rankin, said numerous problems were resolved without changing the language of the contract, and it was a much more positive environment. “We have some things we’re really excited about. We added an additional elementary planning day, we’ve added additional leave days that can roll over into retirement because we added a retirement program. We have not only an early retirement program but also a retirement benefit this year.”

A building advisory committee was added at each building as one method of improving communication and teacher morale.

Dr. Corbin Witt, Superintendent of Schools, said there will be an increase in the amount spent on salaries by 2%.  Individual employee pay raises will vary by position. Some new supplemental positions were added. Also teachers will be required to attend one meeting per week, but they will be paid $13 per hour for any meetings beyond that. The total new funding in the contract has been calculated at approximately $800,000.

Rankin noted that the JCEA is preparing a salary schedule that will include an MS plus 45 ( college hours ) column for longtime teachers. On the current contract there are  130 teachers on the last step, MS plus 30.

Rankin stated, “This has been a very positive agreement. They worked with us well and were very open. I think it was a great agreement.”

Witt said, “We both feel like this is very fair. It’s something that the District can live with, it’s something that the teachers feel that they can live with, so everybody feels pretty good about it.”

A finance committee of negotiators must review the proposed salary schedule and contract language, then it goes to the Board of Education for review. Once that is completed it will be submitted to the JCEA membership for ratification in August. Once that ratification occurs the agreement would then go to the Board of Education for their final ratification vote in the August – early September time frame.