Dr. Steve Troyer, WCS superintendent, explains the salary scales to the board. The scale is split into two columns to show salary increase differences between teachers who have bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees.

Text and Photos
By Marissa Sweatland
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The Wawasee Community School Corp. board approved the 2023-2025 Teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement during its regular school board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 14.

The current salary range for returning Wawasee Community School Corporation teachers is $41,750 to $74,750. Base salary increases are available for teachers who received an evaluation rating of effective or highly effective in the prior school year. Teachers who receive an evaluation rating of ineffective or improvement necessary in the prior school year are not eligible for a base salary increase and will remain at their prior year salary.

Any funds otherwise allocated for teachers who were rated ineffective or improvement necessary will be equally redistributed to all teachers rated effective or highly effective. The redistribution will be in the form of a stipend that will be paid at the end of the school year.

The salary scale is split to show the pay difference between teachers that have acquired a bachelor’s degree and those who acquired a master’s degree. When a teacher moves down a row in either column, they will receive a $1,500 raise. When a teacher moves to the master’s column, they will receive a $3,000 raise and as they move down the master’s column, their salary will increase by $1,500.

There is a 0% increase on health insurance premiums. During the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, the school corporation will provide two insurance holidays in which employee premiums will not be deducted, which equates to just under $300 on the Lutheran health plan. Dr. Steve Troyer estimates one holiday before Christmas break and one before spring break.

The complete Teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement is available online, here.

Dr. Shelly Wilfong brought a proposal for the 2024-2025 school year calendar with the board approving it. According to the calendar, the first student day of school will be Wednesday, Aug. 14. Spring break continues to be the first full week in April, April 7-11. The last student day is May 30 and graduation will be held nearly a week later on June 8. Wilfong did note professional learning waiver days and spring parent-teacher conferences are tentative on the calendar.

“We were granted three waiver days this year and we anticipate to be granted three days again. Those are tentatively placed on the calendar, but we will have to wait for state approval,” Wilfong explained, “dates for the spring parent-teacher conferences are tentative as well. There are some different things the high school wants to try with spring conferences, as they are not highly attended. We are thinking about utilizing that time in more productive ways, such as an academic showcase. A lot of schools are moving to that.”

The board also approved a stipend for classified staff. Troyer recommended all classified staff be compensated a one time stipend of $1,000 to be paid on Jan. 17, 2024. This date corresponds with the pay date for the pay period which includes all of Christmas break, so the classified staff will receive a check on this date rather than going an entire pay period without getting paid. Classified employees who are on the corporation’s health insurance plan will also be able to participate in the two insurance premium holidays granted in the Teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The board approved an increase to administration salaries. In the past, administrator pay was tied to the top of the teacher pay scale by which each administrator was assigned a multiplier inside of a determined range and then that number was multiplied by the top teacher rate of pay to determine the administrator’s salary. But now that the model for teacher base pay has increased $3,000, the two will grow at a disproportionate rate if the multiplier model is continued in use. For example, an administrator with a multiplier of 1.5 would receive a $4,500 pay increase instead of the $3,000 increase the teachers received. The board approved administrators receiving a $3,000 annual salary adjustment.

Mia Hodgson ran a season best time at the IHSAA State XC Championships that was held Saturday, Oct. 28. She ran 19:45.7 and finished 141st place out of 249 participants. In front, from left, are Steve Baut, Hodgson, Doug Slabaugh, Neil Likens. In back, are Andy Cripe, Dr. Steve Troyer, Don Bockhart and Mike Wilson.

During Good News, the board recognized the football team as they received a IHSAA Exemplary Behavior report. Seabe Gavin was impressed by the team’s sportsmanship and character during the game. The board also recognized Mia Hodgson who finished 141st place of the 249 participants at the IHSAA State XC Championships that was held Saturday, Oct. 28. She ran a season best time of 19:45.7.

Troyer informed the board of multiple donations received, including: $500 from the Builders Association of North Central Indiana to Milford School for student clothing needs; $100 from Thomas and Melissa Sorensen, $100 from Matthew and Sonia Morehouse, $300 from Milford Lions Club, $100 from Morehouse Grain Farms all to the WHS FFA for Feed A Farmer; $190 from Karen and Ronald Harter to WHS marine mechanics; $3,000 from Sally Mahnken, $100 from Higgins Sports and Lawn $500 from Richard Brungardt and Lakeland Animal Clinic, $250 from Daniel V. Buchman LLC, $100 from Price Auto Repair and $250 from Foyle Plumbing, all to the WHS Super Mileage team; $200 from Holle’s Salvage to the WHS auto mechanics and a $300 anonymous donation to Syracuse Elementary for the Angel Fund.

The board agreed to preemptively approve overnight trips for winter sport teams to participate in IHSAA Tournament events, should the teams qualify. Wrestling was approved for Feb. 15-17 for state finals in Terre Haute; girls’ swimming and diving for Feb. 8-10 for state finals in Indianapolis; boys’ swimming and diving for Feb. 22-24 for state finals in Indianapolis; girls’ basketball for Feb. 23-24 for state finals in Indianapolis and boys’ basketball for March 29-30 for state finals in Indianapolis.

The next regular school board meeting will be held 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, in the Wawasee High School Warrior Room, #1 Warrior Path Bldg. 1, Syracuse.