News Summary
The Clark County School Board has ratified a two-year contract worth $214 million with the Clark County Education Association to enhance support for teachers. The deal will provide salary increases and address staffing shortages, while also implementing a salary review process to aid teachers affected by previous salary changes. While funding will improve working conditions, teachers are now facing increased contributions to their retirement system amid ongoing financial challenges.
Las Vegas, NV – The Clark County School Board has unanimously approved a new two-year contract with the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) valued at $214 million to support the district’s teachers. This agreement is set to span from 2025 to 2027 and aims to address several critical aspects affecting the teaching workforce in the region.
Funding for the new contract is sourced from two key legislative bills: $114 million from SB500, the primary K-12 education budget bill, and $70 million from AB398, a supplemental bill aimed at addressing hard-to-fill teaching positions. Despite this financial support, the district faced flat funding this year, which has restricted available resources, according to Board President Irene Bustamante Adams.
The contract does not include a cost-of-living adjustment, primarily due to inadequate funding in the current budget cycle. However, there are provisions for salary increases through the district’s existing salary schedule. The starting salary for teachers remains around $57,000, which the district considers to be regionally competitive.
Salary Increases and Adjustments
Approximately 16,500 teachers are expected to benefit from salary increases based on step advancements within the salary schedule. Over the next two years, teachers may see potential raises of up to $3,400 as they advance by steps each year. Additionally, about 3,000 teachers could qualify for column advancements, which are determined by completed professional development, resulting in possible increases of $6,500 in base pay.
To address high vacancy roles, the contract allows for differential pay of $5,000 for teachers in essential positions, including special education teachers working in Title I schools. The district is also increasing its contribution to teachers’ health insurance over the contract period.
Salary Review Process
A significant feature of the contract is the provision for salary review and adjustment aimed at supporting teachers who were negatively impacted by prior salary changes. The allocation for these adjustments is $10 million each year, with priority given to senior teachers affected by salary compaction and those working in both Title I and non-Title I schools.
Teachers seeking salary adjustments can request a review through CCEA by submitting relevant documentation concerning their experience and education. The final decisions regarding salary adjustments rest with CCEA and the Clark County School District (CCSD). Additionally, there are legal stipulations ensuring that all teachers are treated equally, regardless of their union membership.
Concerns have been raised by some educators about potential biases in the salary review process, particularly regarding the involvement of union officials. In the event that the allocated $10 million is insufficient for all eligible teachers in need of adjustments, remaining teachers will be prioritized for subsequent reviews.
PERS Contributions and Teacher Frustrations
Teachers are also facing changes to their contributions to the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), where traditionally these costs are shared between employers and employees. This year, due to funding shortfalls, teachers will be responsible for a 1.625% increase in their contributions. Many educators are expressing frustration, as they are currently dealing with financial hardships despite the eventual benefits from PERS contributions.
Conclusion
The new contract represents a significant commitment to enhance the compensation framework for teachers within the Clark County School District while also outlining the financial challenges that the district faces moving forward. As funding dynamics evolve, the school board and education association must continue to navigate these complexities to better support their educators.
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Additional Resources
- The Nevada Independent: 3 Takeaways from the New Clark County Teachers Contract
- Wikipedia: Clark County School District
- Fox 5 Vegas: Clark County School District Passes New Teacher Contract
- Google Search: Clark County Teachers Contract
- Las Vegas Sun: Teachers Receive New Two-Year Contract with Clark
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Employees’ Retirement System
- 8 News Now: CCSD Trustees Approve Agreement Bringing 10% Hike in Pay
- Google News: Clark County Teacher Salary
- Review Journal: Board Set to Vote on Proposed Contract
- Google Scholar: Clark County Education Association
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