The Park City Board of Education approved a generous, but competitive 3-year compensation agreement with the Park City Education Association, which represents the school district’s teachers. Leslie Thatcher has more.
Under the agreement, the starting salary for licensed staff, which includes teachers, will increase from $43,700 to $50,700* plus benefits. In addition, every licensed teacher, district-wide, will receive a salary increase of $7,000, effective this September.
In a prepared statement, Park City School District superintendent Ember Conley said the district is fully committed to attracting and retaining the best teachers and when the community combines exceptional instruction with modern, safe, and efficient facilities, Park City students will continue to receive nationally-recognized, excellent education.
Human Resources Director Tim McConnell said there’s no doubt that school districts across the nation are competing to attract and retain the top talent in teaching and right here in Utah, they’re already having to compete with teacher pay increases in those districts in which Park City looks for employees. Once again, he added, Park City has set the gold standard for compensation.
Renee Pinkney, PCEA Co-president and Janice Jones, PCEA Negotiator said they felt like they were listened to.
The money to do this comes from the increase in the Weighted Public Unit or WPU – which is set by the state legislature every year along with general reserves from the Maintenance and Operation Fund.
According to District Business Administrator Todd Hauber, M&O money can only be used for salaries and operations. Money for facilities must come from the Capital Fund. The separate funds can’t be co-mingled, which is why the school board has decided it needs a bond proposal on November’s ballot to fund new facilities.
We’ll be talking to members of the negotiating team Thursday morning at 7:15.
