Wolf Point School Officials Respond To Teachers’ Contract Proposals
After receiving proposals from the Wolf Point Education Association at the previous meeting, WOlf Point School District officials provided feedback during the bargaining session on Monday, March 21.
The Wolf Point Education Association’s salary proposal was a 10 percent increase to the base salary for 2022-2023, a 5 percent increase to the base salary for 2023-2024 and a 5 percent increase to the base salary for 2024-2025.
School officials say that the 10 percent base increase for 2022-2023 would cost the school district approximately $440,570. Paying for a “steps and lanes” increase as it currently appears in the contract would cost $64,389.
The response from school officials to the education association included the suggestion that the union considers adjusting the higher salaries in its proposal in order to afford additional opportunities to offer a higher base salary.
Wolf Point’s school district provided information how much each teacher earns hourly and daily as far as pay.
The education association handed out additional information regarding Impact Aid for both Wolf Point and Poplar. Wolf Point’s Impact Aid ending fund balance for the elementary district has increased from $5,276,152 in 2015-2016 to $9,418,877 in fiscal year 2021. The Impact Aid ending fund for the high school district went from $2,185,382 in fiscal year 2016 to $3,954,579 in fiscal year 2021.
The parties discussed substitute teacher pay and loss of prep time for teachers. Because of a shortage of substitute teachers, regular teachers often must supervise students from other classes.
High school principal Kim Hanks said that the school only has one substitute teacher available. The need of subs range from two some weeks to 20 in other weeks, she added.
Superintendent Loverty Erickson said she will work with principals to try have a system with more control regarding the subs and loss of prep time challenges.
The education association’s proposal for longevity pay is $750 annually for teachers with 15 years or more experience and $1,500 annually for teachers with 20 years or more of experience.
There was also discussion regarding contracts for Emergency Authorized Educators. More research will be done before coming to an agreement about the situation.
