Evergreen, W. Valley schools OK raises
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 11 months AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | August 3, 2013 10:00 PM
Evergreen and West Valley school district employees will receive pay increases under new, two-year contracts.
Both districts serve kindergarten through eighth grade.
Evergreen School District certified, classified and administrative staffers will receive 1.5-percent pay increases.
The Evergreen Education Association, which includes certified staffers such as teachers, approved a contract in June. The 1.5-percent increase on the base affects 50 employees. First-year teachers can expect a starting salary of $29,263.
About 48 nonunion classified employees including office staffers, food service workers and paraprofessionals, also will benefit from the pay increase.
Administrators also receive 1.5-percent increases, although their salaries are renegotiated annually.
Two kindergarten- through fourth-grade principals will earn $82,546 and one fifth- through eighth-grade principal will earn $77,662 for the 2013-14 school year. The special services director’s salary will be $78,683.
The district recently hired a new superintendent, Laurie Barron, at a starting salary of $86,000. Barron replaces retired Superintendent Joel Voytoski.
A monthly district health insurance contribution will start at $415 depending on the plan an employee chooses.
West Valley School District approved 3 percent increases for certified and nonunion classified and administrative staffers in May.
Forty members of West Valley Teacher’s Association, which includes certified teachers, will benefit from the raise. West Valley starts first-year teachers at a higher salary scale than the base. First-year teachers at West Valley can expect a starting salary of $32,392.
Fifteen classified employees will be affected by the increase. This group includes food service workers, paraprofessionals and office staffers.
Administrators also benefit from the 3 percent raise. Administrators’ salaries also are renegotiated annually. Superintendent Cal Ketchum’s salary will be $82,400 for the 2013-14 school year and a building principal’s salary will be $76,270.
The increase also includes a monthly district health contribution of about $455, depending on the insurance plan an employee chooses.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].
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