School Board OKs new teacher contract, which includes raises

By Ian Whitaker

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 | 7:35 p.m.

School district officials tonight approved a $135.5 million contract for Clark County’s 18,000 teachers, ending a bitter months-long fight with the teachers union that left many educators feeling unwanted and in search of work elsewhere.

In a unanimous vote that followed a short meeting behind closed doors, trustees put their stamp of approval on a two-year contract that would, among other things, increase the starting salary for new teachers by 15 percent.

“We feel this is a good first step,” said School Board President Linda Young.

CCSD will pay for the contract with cuts to areas like maintenance services, a human resources management system and by drawing on funds saved from teacher attrition.

In the contract, which was approved over the winter break by members of the Clark County Education Association, teachers will receive a 2.25 percent cost of living increase effective July 1, retroactive pay raises for the current school year and be bumped up in salary.

In total, the starting salary of CCSD teachers in the new contract has increased by $6,263 while the maximum salary has been increased by $17,225.

“We appreciate the board making the right decision,” said CCEA President Vikki Courtney. “For the first time, educators will be appropriately compensated for the work they do for students.”

In return, teachers will be required to participate in professional development away from the classroom. That requirement has rankled some, who view it as unnecessarily burdensome and confusing. Teachers who do complete the professional development are entitled to raises for doing so.

Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky lauded the professional development requirement as a way to get teachers on board with important programs and talking with each other about ways to solve problems in their schools and beyond.

“It’s unlike any other system in the United States,” said Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky. “It allows the opportunity for our students to be better because we are providing the opportunity for our educators to be the best they can be.”

The dispute started last June when the district announced it would not be able to honor previously negotiated pay raises in order to fill a $67 million budget hole.