School Negotiations Waiting For Legislature
Representatives of the Wolf Point Education Association and Wolf Point School Board held a short negotiations meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
The process can’t take many steps forward until the Montana Legislature decides the amount of funds going into K-12 education.
“We can’t do anything with money until the Legislature is done,” Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins. “Even some of the longevity pay is tied to it. It’s all money.”
House Bill 252, the Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success Act, aims to increase starting teacher salaries up to about $40,000 in the next six years.
The Wolf Point Education Association presented its salary increase proposal during a meeting in late January. Salary schedule proposals include an 8 percent increase to the base salary for the 2025-2026 school year. The increase would put the base salary at $39,493. The proposal also includes an additional 4 percent increase for 2026-2027 and 4 percent increase for 2027-2028.
Longevity pay will consist of a $2,000 after 10 years of continuous service in the Wolf Point School District, $2,500 after 15 years and $3,000 for 20 years of continuous service.
During a meeting on Jan. 14, union representatives provided a list of additional positions that teachers feel are needed in the school district. The positions suggested included dean of students at each school, a school resource officer, interventionists, drug and alcohol counselors and behavior leaders in classrooms.
