In a vote of 2329 to 601, Wichita teachers tentatively approved a teachers' agreement between United Teachers of Wichita and the USD 259 Board of Education. If the board approves the agreement at their meeting on Oct. 24, it will be the end of several months of negotiations that required the help of a federal mediator.
The agreement will cost the district nearly $11 million, which officials say has already been factored into USD 259’s budget for this year. The contract includes salary adjustments for teachers based on number of years of teaching and furthering their education. Teachers will get a modest one-time bonus in November. The board of education will also contribute an additional $100-per-employee to the health plan reserve.
The increased salaries and bonuses will come from cost savings on utilities and fuel as well as $10.3 million in additional funding from a school finance bill passed in June.
--
Follow Abigail Beckman on Twitter @AbigailKMUW.
To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.