Teachers choose raise over bonus

GENTRY — Teachers in the Gentry School District will receive an across-the-board $500 per year pay raise in addition to incremental step increases for years of service already built into the salary schedule.

The matter was decided by vote of the teachers, with 76 voting for the $500 salary increase and 20 voting for a one-time bonus of $1,000 to be received in September.

The school board, at its May9 meeting, unanimously approved a recommendation to let teachers make the choice between the two options. The board resolution referred the matter to the Personnel Policy Committee for a teacher vote, with that decision to be the adopted policy of the board. The measure was passed by the board with an emergency declared so that the decision could be used in teacher contracts offered next month.

Gentry School District superintendent Randy Barrett said he suggested the $500 per year raisebecause it helps build up the salary schedule to bring the district a step closer to other area districts which pay considerably more than the Gentry District.

The salary increase for certified staff (which does not include the superintendent’s salary, set by the board) would cost the district an additional $160,000 per year.

The cost for the 3 percent raise approved earlier this month for the school’s classified employees and adding a step 20 to their salary scale will cost approximately $100,000 per year.