By Amanda Foust
The Carmel Clay School Board approved a package of salary stipends and pay increases for staff members at its most recent meeting conducted July 14.
None of the pay increases were for teachers who bargain their contract collectively.
Assistant Superintendent Roger McMichael recommended the salary stipends and pay increases for all salaried and hourly staff members for the 2014-15 school year.
The school board approved a package for its salaried employees that included three benefits. The first component was an ongoing 1 percent salary increase for the first step and top step of the salary schedule. The next offered a one-time 2 percent salary stipend for effective and highly effective employees. The third offered a one-time contribution to a health savings account for employees who chose the high deductible health plan.
McMichael said, “Contribution to a health savings account is being offered for those with a high deductible plan. This coupled with the wellness center has proven very successful, and we encourage our employees to consider this.”
The hourly support staff were offered an ongoing 1 percent pay scale increase as well as a similar contribution to a health savings account for employees who chose the high deductible health plan.
The adjustments will retroactively go into effect July 1.
“Teachers were not included in this action because they are covered under a collectively bargained agreement,” McMichael said. “With teachers next year, the state is providing a performance reward grant to reward teachers who are effective or highly effective. Every school district will get a portion of the 30 million dollars. They are not providing this for other employees, which is why there is a difference.”
The teachers association and the school district are still in Marion County Superior Court, Civil Division 7, to try and resolve issues stemming from the 2012-13 contract negotiations – there is no word on when that case (49D05-1312-PL-045234) might be concluded.
But offering a salary increase for the staff was important to the board.
“Funding is very limited, but The Board of School Trustees wanted to provide at least a minimal salary increase to the dedicated employees of Carmel Clay Schools,” McMichael said.
