Teachers get a raise with new two-year contract

The 150 certified employees in Columbia Falls’ public schools will receive a pay increase both this year and in the next school year.

The School District 6 Board of Trustees approved a two-year contract with the Columbia Falls Teachers Union at their Nov. 10 meeting.

All certified staff, including teachers, will see a 2 percent increase for the 2014-2015 school year, bringing the base salary for incoming teachers to $31,857. That will be followed by a 1.5 percent increase in the next school year that will raise the base salary to $32,335.

Teachers who have worked 17 consecutive years in the Columbia Falls district also will receive an annual career incentive stipend. This stipend, which recognizes experience and education, increased by 0.75 percent to 4.25 percent of the base salary.

Negotiations with the school district’s classified workers union are ongoing. Classified staff includes food service, transportation, paraeducators and custodial employees.