School districts in Lake and Porter counties have all met the state-required deadline to submit ratified collective bargaining agreements, according to the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.
Tuesday marked the deadline to report the ratified pacts.
Gary and Hammond officials ratified contracts Tuesday.
In Gary, teachers received a 2.5% salary increase to their base salary based on eligibility criteria that included evaluation ratings and experience.
The starting salary for a teacher with no experience is $49,986.
Teachers can also receive one-time stipends for remaining with the district, attendance, and performance.
Gary Teachers Union president GlenEva Dunham said during Tuesday’s ratification meeting the talks went up to the wire. “We still had issues from the last contract,” she said.
She also criticized the district for holding the ratification meeting in the morning when teachers couldn’t attend.
“This strikes a balance between our hardworking teachers who deserve a raise as we continue to remain fiscally responsible,” said Paige McNulty, district manager of operations.
In Hammond, Northwest Indiana’s largest district, teachers will receive a $2,000 salary increase and a $3,000 stipend, dependent on performance evaluations.
The salary for a first-year teacher was set at $49,000 annually. Emergency permit teachers will receive $47,000. If they become certified during the school year, the salary will be prorated from the date of certification.
Meanwhile, the state reported 303 districts, including special education cooperatives, all submitted ratified contracts.
The state reported there were 62,673 full-time teachers, including 3,724 first-year teachers.
Statewide, there were 30,932 teachers above last year’s salary average of $53,991 and 31,888 below the same average.
The report also listed the average superintendent’s salary at $133,064 and the superintendent’s average total compensation at $180,068.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter at the Post-Tribune.
