GFW School Board approves employee group contracts

by Doug Hanson
The GFW School approved seven group contracts for employees at a special meeting on December 20th. Some new laws regarding sick time, safe time and wages were taking affect on January 1st. Superintendent Jeff Horton stated the some of this language give staff more flexibility with their time off.
Other wording in the contract for the teaching staff dealt with what is considered a full-time teacher. This affected teachers in preschool.
The total package for the two-year contract with the teaching staff was a 10.29 percent increase. While increased cost for insurance put the number somewhat higher, Horton stated that the District also wanted to get starting salaries more competitive with area schools. Salaries were increased $1,500 for the current school year. A first-year teacher for the 2023-24 school year is now making $41,734. For the second year the salary will increase $4,000 to $45,734. A teacher with 20 years of experience and a Masters Degree will make $69,467.

For the entire story, check out the January 31 issue of the Winthrop News.