Olentangy Schools: Teachers get 3% base-pay raises in new 3-year contract
Olentangy Schools and its teachers union have agreed on a three-year contract renewal.
The deal between the district and the Olentangy Teachers Association was approved by the district’s school boar Dec. 9 by a 5-0 vote. It will run from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025.
The previous contract was agreed upon in 2018 and renewed for a one-year extension this past spring. The board on March 11 approved the extension that allowed for a 2.5% increase on the base salary.
That contract also enabled the district to realize health-care program savings estimated at more than $9 million, according to treasurer Emily Hatfield.
The new agreement approved Dec. 9 allows for a 3% increase annually on the base salary for teachers.
In addition to base pay raises, the salary rate increases by scheduled amounts, called step increases, based on years of experience and as teachers obtain certain levels of education.
Other provisions of the previous contract remain in place, such as benefits that include health, dental and life insurance and State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio pension.
Class sizes outlined in the current contract will continue at a ratio of 24-to-1 at the elementary level and 25-to-1 at the middle and high school levels.
“This contract provides certainty and stability for our district's future,” school board president Julie Wagner Feasel said in a Dec. 10 news release from the district. “The administrators and teachers can now move forward with their continued focus on the students.”
OTA president Elaine Eddy said the district and teachers have a strong partnership in providing education to Olentangy students.
“While maintaining the integrity of being financially prudent, we still must remain competitive in the hiring process to attract and retain the best teachers,” Eddy said. “This three-year contract extension continues to do just that, and we are proud and appreciative to be teachers in this community.”
Superintendent Mark Raiff concurred.
“The partnership between our teachers and the administration is critical in making Olentangy Schools a top school district for student opportunity and achievement. The contract reinforces this strong relationship while maintaining the fiscal responsibility the district is known for,” Raiff said in a news release.
The OTA represents 1,514 Olentangy educators.
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Olentangy Schools: Teachers get 3% base-pay raises in new 3-year deal
