The Valparaiso School Board has finalized the 2022-2023 teacher contract.
It raises the starting salary for new teachers to $51,000, a $4,000 increase. Returning teachers get a $4,500 raise, plus a one-percent, referendum-funded retention stipend at the end of this semester and another $500 stipend next June.
Annie Schoenfelt is the president of the Valparaiso Teachers Association. "We've always, in Valpo, been a place where teachers want to work. We want to continue that. We want our teachers to want to stay in Valpo and stay working here. So thank you for all of that," Schoenfelt told the school board last week.
The school board also approved raises for administrators and support staff. Administrators will get a 5.9-percent increase. Returning classified staff will get a 6.5-percent raise, while the rate for new hires goes up by 5.3 percent.
But Superintendent Dr. Jim McCall says a bigger raise has been carved out for aides. "Our aides are critical to our success at all levels, and so, being able to bring them up at a higher rate is really important to do," McCall said.
Staff members are also expected to get stipends at the end of the semester and in June.
