New contract keeps Everett teachers as Washington’s best-paid
EVERETT – Veteran teachers at Everett Public Schools will continue to earn the highest salaries in the state with their latest contract.
And under the three-year contract, the teachers union and school district are moving on to do the same for those beginning their careers as classroom teachers.
The district board of directors is expected to approve the collective agreement on September 14th. The Everett Education Association, which represents 1,350 educators, ratified the terms last month.
This is one of eight new teacher contracts signed in the area’s school districts in the past few days, with a ninth signed in Edmonds in July. Each covers topics like schedules and assessment procedures. Salary increases, which are a closely watched component, ranged from 2.5% to 5% for certified instructors this school year.
At Everett, the agreement provides for a flat rate increase of 2.75% in the first year and increases of at least 3.5% in the second and 4% in the third year.
The maximum salary increases to $ 131,006 for those with 14 years or more of experience plus a bachelor’s, master’s, and 135-point professional education credit. That’s the highest grade in the state, followed by Mukilteo, where teachers can earn up to $ 130,042 under a contract that runs through next August.
The salary for aspiring teachers in Everett will increase by a percentage rate, increasing an estimated 6.8% in the second year of the contract and approximately 7.3% in the final year.
While Everett is known for paying top dollars to experienced teachers, it offers one of the lowest starting salaries for aspiring teachers compared to neighboring counties. Union and district leaders said they want that to change.
“Providing extremely competitive salaries attracts and keeps teachers up here,” said Association President Jared Kink. “Now we’re going to start bringing teachers straight from education programs in Everett and keeping them here for their careers. We want Everett teachers here for life. ”
With this agreement, a new teacher is expected to earn $ 59,334 this year and an estimated $ 63,424 next school year. For comparison, the Edmonds School District currently pays new teachers the most, $ 68,965, with Lake Stevens, Northshore, Mukilteo, Arlington, Snohomish, and Stanwood all paying prospective teacher salaries over $ 60,000.
“The negotiation process was a total collaboration between the union and the staff. I think it’s well deserved, ”said Everett Schools Superintendent Ian Saltzman of the result.
• The teachers in Edmonds finalized their deal in July. At the time, a one-year contract extension was negotiated that included a 2% pay increase for certified teachers and a $ 1,250 increase for each level in their payroll. It raised trainee teacher wages and raised the maximum salary to $ 124,658.
Negotiations in Snohomish, Marysville, Lake Stevens, Arlington, Stanwood and Lakewood resulted in three-year collective agreements, while Darrington teachers negotiated a two-year contract.
• On Friday, the Snohomish School Board unanimously approved a contract with the Snohomish Education Association that pays new teachers $ 61,609 and the most experienced $ 122,322.
It includes a 4% raise for the first year beginning September 1st. Half of the increase – 2% – corresponds to the amount of the implicit price deflation factor, or IPD, and is financed by the state. The IPD is a key figure for measuring inflation and an alternative to the consumer price index. Most districts receive government funding for IPD.
In the final years of the Snohomish treaty, salaries will increase by 2% plus the state-set IPD.
• Also last week, Marysville Schools Board signed an agreement with their teachers that calls for a 3.5% increase this year. Information on the second and third year was not published.
New teachers will make $ 58,128, up from $ 56,153 last year, while seasoned instructors will make $ 121,255 up from $ 117,224.
• This week, Tuesday, the Stanwood-Camano School District principals were able to agree to an agreement with their teachers. It includes an increase of 4% in the first year, followed by increases of 2% plus IPD in the second and third years.
An aspiring teacher will earn $ 60,160 this school year and the most experienced will earn $ 116,455 under this contract.
• On Wednesday, the Lake Stevens School Board is expected to approve an agreement with the Lake Stevens Education Association to increase first year salaries by 3.75%, second year by 1% plus IPD, and last year by 1.5% plus Increase IPD.
Salaries this year range from $ 65,124 for a new teacher to $ 125,636 for the most experienced.
“I am grateful to the members of the district and the LSEA negotiating teams for their great collaboration on many common interests to achieve this important agreement,” Lake Stevens Superintendent Ken Collins wrote in a letter to staff.
• In Arlington, teachers last week ratified their three-year contract and the school board will act on September 13th.
She calls for wage increases of 2.5% this year, 2% plus IPD in the second year and 3% plus IPD last year. A new teacher will make $ 62,194 this school year, while those at the top of the scale will make $ 121,660.
• On September 15th, the Lakewood School Board is expected to approve the deal that teachers sponsored last week.
It calls for wage increases of 5% this year, 3% plus IPD next year, and only the federally funded inflation amount last year.
An aspiring teacher on the new salary plan makes $ 59,665, while those at the top of the scale make $ 117,460.
“We are very happy about this agreement. It enables Lakewood to attract and retain highly skilled employees whose salaries are comparable to those of neighboring districts while maintaining our longstanding commitment to sustainable budgets, ”Superintendent Scott Peacock said in an email.
• In Darrington, teachers and the district signed a two-year contract late last month that pays a first year teacher an annual salary of $ 59,246 and the veteran an annual salary of $ 111,668.
Jerry Cornfield: [email protected]; 360-352-8623 @dospueblos