Members of the Van Buren Education Association have ratified a new union contract with the school district.
The new agreement, effective in January, will provide a $6,000 annual salary raise to teachers and allow each educator to move one advancement step on the pay scale and each pay scale category will be increased by $1,000. Beginning in 2023, each of the union members will move ahead two levels.
The contract also includes an increase in longevity pay and an hourly rate of $33.50 for homebound teaching.
According to a union official, 201 of the 217 union members voted in favor of ratifying the new contract and there were no “no” votes, a first for the Van Buren teachers' union.
Members of the board of education voted to approve the contract with vice president Susan Featheringill and treasurer Simone Pinter abstaining to avoid any perceived conflicts of interests. Both have family members who work in the district.
Van Buren Public School District Human Resources Director Abdul Madyun, who was part of the negotiation team said the new contract will make teaching jobs in the district more attractive to new employees, offering a $45,000 annual wage as opposed to the previous $39,000 starting salary. He said that both the dental and vision benefits in the insurance plans have been improved, also an incentive for new employees.
Superintendent of Schools Pete Kudlak said that he was “glad we are able to do this for our staff.”
