The Milbank School District has completed its teacher negotiations for the 2016-2017 school year according to Superintendent Tim Graf and the Board of Education.... Milbank Teacher’s Salary Increased For 2016-2017

MilbankHighSchoolThe Milbank School District has completed its teacher negotiations for the 2016-2017 school year according to Superintendent Tim Graf and the Board of Education.

Governor Daugaard’s teacher pay proposal set a teacher average pay target of $48,500 in the state of South Dakota. “Although the Milbank School District is unable to meet this target, significant gains have been made, and the district’s average salary will increase by $5,533,” stated Graf. “The increase is across the board for all faculty with the larger percentage increase given to less experienced teachers.” The base salary for a beginning teacher has risen from $33,500 to $38,500.

The new package will increase the average salary in the district to approximately $46,629, which is an increase from $41,096 in the current year.

Graf further explained that two accountability tests in the new teacher compensation laws were recently passed. The first requires 85% of the new money to be spent on certified teachers salary and benefits. The second requires the district to meet a minimum percentage increase threshold. “Although Milbank has exceeded those requirements, the average teacher salary is expected to fall short of the Governor’s teacher pay plan target.”

Graf also reported that insurance contributions were also increased by $55 per month and deductible options were increased by $500, with employees able to choose a $1,500, $2,000 or $2,500 deductible.

Staff Writer

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