Vandalia-Butler approves new teacher contract

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The Vandalia-Butler Board of Education approved a new master contract with teachers and staff during its April 25 meeting.

The Master Agreement between the Board of Education and the Vandalia-Butler Education Association (VBEA) runs for three years through June 30, 2020.

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The contract will include a pay raise. The base salary of the contract for certificated staff, or teachers, was set at $37,853 which represents a 2.9 percent increase over the previous agreement. The base salary will increase 2 percent annually in each of the final two years of the contract.

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The salary schedule increases with experience and education, as the base salary is the entry salary of a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no years of experience.

The contract was also ratified by the VBEA at a 98 percent approval rate, with 166 votes in favor and 3 opposed.

The new contract also adds an attendance bonus for teachers and staff. Full-time employees can earn up to $800 per year for perfect attendance over the course of an entire school year. Those missing just one day of the year can earn up to $500. Part-time employees can earn half of those amounts.

The incentive will be reviewed during the 2019-20 school year to determine if attendance has improved as a result of the incentive and whether to continue it.

The Board of Education approved the contract unanimously on a 4-0 vote.

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Superintendent Brad Neavin said the contract is fiscally conservative and praised the VBEA for understanding fiscal realities.

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