Teachers in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school system voted to ratify a new contract bargained with the school administration.  The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) and officials representing the school corporation reached a tentative agreement in October.  Teachers voted on that contract November 1-3.

HSEA President Janet Chandler tells LarryInFishers once teachers votes were counted, the pact was ratified.  The school board will vote on the contract at the regular meeting Wednesday night to put the final seal of approval on the new agreement.

The contract extends for two years. covering the calendar years of 2018 & 2019.  At the October 25th Hamilton Southeastern School Board meeting, Superintendent Allen Bourff outlined the main provisions of the agreement.  The contract includes:

–In 2018, teachers will receive an average pay increase of 2.73%, with salaries ranging from a low of $40,158 up to high of $79,085.

–In 2019, the average salary increase will be 2.66%, with the low $40,158 and the high $79,751.

–There will be a group of teachers not always falling under the increases described above due to what is described as a”reset,” which is an effort to increase the pay of newly hired teachers who suffered pay caps during the tough budget years.

–Health insurance premiums will not increase in 2018, but 2019 premiums will depend on what the school system experiences in health claims, and that data is not known yet.

–Teacher compensation for extracurricular activities will not change in the current 2017-2018 school year, but the school corporation will inject $17,500 into that money pool during the 2018-2019 school year.

–The administration Power Point presentation says this contract will increase teacher compensation by just over $6.4 million during the 2-year duration of the pact.