TERRE HAUTE, IN—The minimum starting salary for a Vigo County School Corporation teacher will increase from $35,000 to $38,000 thanks to a collective bargaining agreement with the Vigo County Teachers Association. Teachers voted to approve the agreement on Tuesday, and the board ratified that agreement in a special meeting Friday morning.

While state funding normally funds teacher pay, the salary increases this year will come from 2020 operational referendum funds.

“State funding for teachers and staff does not match their value to our community,” said Dr. Rob Haworth, superintendent of schools. “This increase was only possible with the help of our community, and we’re thankful that they passed the November 5 referendum.”

Pay increases will start on January 1, 2020, since they are funded from the 2020 referendum.

“This agreement allows us to continue to put great teachers in front of our students every day,” said Haworth. “In a time of teacher shortages, we wanted to focus on our starting salary so that we can be competitive with our neighbors and attract the best and brightest teachers to Vigo County.”

 

Details of the plan include:

• The minimum starting salary will be increased to $38,000. The minimum starting salary for teachers with at least a master’s degree will be $40,000. The minimum starting salary for teachers with a doctorate will be $46,500.
• All teachers in the Vigo County School Corporation will receive a salary increase.
  • Teachers hired after May 10, 2005 will receive a salary base increase of 5%.
  • Teachers hired on or after May 10, 1996 and before May 10, 2005 will receive a salary base increase of 4%.
  • Teachers hired prior to May 10, 1996 will receive a salary base increase of 3%.
• The board contribution for health insurance premiums will maintain the same ratio to the total health insurance premium as it did in 2019.
• Teachers enrolled in high deductible health plans will receive an HSA contribution of $800 for single plans and $1,800 for family, employee and spouse, or employee and children plans. The contribution will be made prior to February 1, 2020.
• The Vigo County School Corporation will increase its contribution to the teachers’ 401(a) retirement plan, from 2.65% to 2.75%.

 

“Our community deserves the credit for these salary increases,” said Bill Riley, director of communications. “We told our community that we wanted our teacher pay to be competitive with our neighboring districts, and that’s exactly what we’re using the referendum money for. We’re grateful that Vigo County recognized that teachers deserve more.”