Cheney teachers officially have a new two-year contract in which the district devotes 11.92 percent more money to educator salaries.
The new contract was ratified by Cheney Education Association members on Sept. 17 and was approved by the school board at their Sept. 19 meeting, where Assistant Superintendent Sean Dotson called the agreement “a win-win.”
According to contract documents, district employees will be placed on the appropriate step of the updated salary schedule according to years of experience and education earned. Overall, more than $2.5 million in new money is directed to certificated staff, and teachers will be paid for any extra time they spend doing contracted work.
“We do have confidence that this is a sustainable schedule,” Dotson said.
As part of the agreement, any teacher requested by the district to take additional course work who chooses to do so will be fully reimbursed for the cost of all credit and required materials. Plus, the district will provide a one-time, $400 per teacher reimbursement to new employees with three years or less previous teaching experience to support initial classroom setup and supply needs.
“Overall, Cheney teachers are proud of the contract we negotiated with our administration,” CEA president Audra Shaw said in a statement. “I am confident that we negotiated a solid contract that benefits both our students and Cheney teachers by providing the pay increases needed to attract and keep great teachers for our students.”
Cheney was the last district in the area to reach an agreement, and negotiations stretched on well into September. After more than 25 meetings, a tentative agreement was reached Sept. 10 with the help of a mediator.
The state Legislature’s implementation of a funding model that results in inequitable funding for districts across the region made the work uniquely challenging, Dotson said in the school board meeting.
With no statewide method governing contract negotiations or salary increases, the bargaining process proved to be difficult for districts all over Washington. Across the state, districts instituted wage increases that varied widely, from about 6 percent to more than 12 percent. The top salary in some districts hovered around $70,000 per year, while others landed squarely in the $100,000 range.
“With 295 different salary models across the state, it does feel a bit like its pitting school districts against each other,” Roettger said. “I know our employees deserved an increase, we just wanted to do it in a way that was sustainable.”
Roettger said that plan was successful, as the average salary for a Cheney teacher rose from just over $61,000 to $68,787 per year. Senior teachers with extended education and more than 16 years of experience can expect to make up to $85,806.
The district will be able to provide the wage increases this year thanks to about $4.2 million in additional state funding, but may have to tap into the district’s reserve fund for the following year when that number drops to about $3.2 million.
“We’re able to cover the first year fine, but that second year all depends on a variety of variables, like enrollment, staffing numbers. It’s too early to say exactly what the breakdown next year will look like,” Roettger said.
The contracted salary schedule starts a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience at about $43,681 per year. This number increases as the teacher gains experience and education. The top salary range can be reached after 16 years of service, which is significantly less than some other districts.
“I think when you look at career earnings it’s nice to know you’ll hit that number at 16 years, not 30,” Roettger said.
It was a long road to this point, with teachers considering a strike and even staging a protest at the mediated meeting, rallying outside district offices with signs and chanting, “Where’s the money?” That meeting was nearly eight hours long, and the tentative agreement wasn’t reached until nearly midnight.
The new contract seems to satisfy the bulk of district employees.
“I feel like most (teachers) have been pleased with what’s occurred, but it is very difficult with all the changes to have 100 percent be happy with it,” Roettger said.
The majority of Cheney Education Association members voted to ratify the new agreement, Shaw said in a statement.
Shannen Talbot can be reached at [email protected].
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