The Wichita Board of Education and the United Teachers of Wichita have announced a tentative agreement on a two-year contract. The agreement will cover the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.
The announcement included highlights of the new contract:
· Base salary increase of 4.85% in year 1 and 5% in year 2 (This represents a starting new teacher salary of $47,736 in year 1 and $50,123 in year 2);
· Steps, tracks and longevity for years of experience, additional education and years of service for those who are eligible;
· No change to the employee health program or premiums, which represents a BOE contribution of $8,280 a year ($690 month) per employee;
· Increase in sub pay for teachers covering another teacher’s classroom to $30/hour, with a daily maximum of $60;
· Level D supplemental for teachers at Sowers, Bryant, Greiffenstein, Wells and Levy.
Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said in a press release that the new agreement not only supports current teachers, but the starting salary of more than $50,000 in the second year will help in recruiting new teachers to the school district.
Teachers will vote on the contract in early August.