News Summary
The Clark County School Board has unanimously approved a $214 million contract with the Clark County Education Association. This two-year agreement provides step increases for approximately 16,500 teachers, includes differential pay for educators in high-demand areas, and allocates funds for health insurance improvements. Despite funding challenges and no cost-of-living adjustment, the contract aims to enhance teacher support and educational quality in the district. Board President Irene Bustamante Adams emphasized the commitment to supporting educators amidst financial constraints.
Las Vegas, NV – The Clark County School Board has approved a significant two-year contract valued at $214 million with the Clark County Education Association (CCEA). This decision was made unanimously, indicating strong support from the board amid ongoing challenges in educational funding.
The funding for this contract is sourced from multiple state allocations, including $114 million from SB500 and an additional $70 million from AB398. The latter specifically targets hard-to-fill positions within the district, addressing staffing shortages in critical areas.
While the previous contract provided teachers with pay raises exceeding 20% due to an influx of funding for K-12 education in 2023, the current year has seen a stabilization in funding despite rising costs. Board President Irene Bustamante Adams noted that the district’s funding remained steady, yet expenses continue to climb.
Notably, the new contract lacks a cost-of-living adjustment, attributed to insufficient funds. Consequently, the starting salary for teachers will remain at approximately $57,000. However, teachers, aside from newly hired individuals, will have the opportunity to advance a step on the salary schedule each year throughout the duration of the contract, resulting in potential pay raises of up to $3,400 over two years. Approximately 16,500 teachers are expected to benefit from these incremental pay increases.
In addition to step increases, around 3,000 teachers may qualify for column advancement on the salary schedule, which rewards those who complete professional development training with a possible pay boost of $6,500.
Enhancing the financial support for teachers in high-demand areas, the contract includes a differential pay of $5,000 for educators working in challenging vacancies, such as special education at Title I schools. This is directly funded by the $70 million allocation from state resources.
Moreover, the district’s contribution to teachers’ health insurance will see improvements over the next two years. A new process for salary review and adjustments for teachers adversely affected by earlier salary increases has also been established. The contract allocates $10 million each year for this purpose, focusing on teachers who have faced salary compaction, starting with those in Title I schools before moving on to non-Title I school educators.
To participate in this review, eligible teachers will need to submit a request along with necessary documentation, such as evidence of years of experience and educational qualifications, to verify their eligibility for adjustments.
There has been some debate regarding the CCEA’s role in this review process, with concerns that it may prioritize the interests of union members over non-members. Merely handling the evaluation fairly is an ongoing focus, with acknowledgment from the district’s General Counsel that it is unlawful to favor employees based on union affiliation. Nevertheless, the budget for addressing salary adjustments may not fully cover all teachers who qualify.
On another financial front, teachers will see an increase of 1.625% in their contributions to the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) beginning this July, as funds for this were not included in the new contract negotiations.
Superintendent Jhone Ebert emphasized that this new contract aims to allow teachers to concentrate on their students, promoting an enhanced educational environment. Meanwhile, CCEA Executive Director John Vellardita reiterated the union’s commitment to its members’ welfare amidst various challenges.
As the Clark County School District looks to implement this contract, the board’s decision reflects a commitment to supporting teachers in the face of financial constraints, underscoring the complexities involved in educational funding and teacher compensation.
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