Teachers in Provo ratify new contract

PROVO — The teachers union in the Provo School District has ratified a contract for next school year.

When all the votes were tallied up Thursday, about 90 percent of members of the Provo Education Association voted in favor of the 2007-08 contract — which includes an average 12.3 percent increase in pay and benefits.

"That's pretty high," said Ron Firmage, director of Bonneville Uniserv, which represents teachers associations in Provo, Alpine, Nebo and Carbon school districts. "That's one of the highest we've had in a long time. Of course, it's due to the legislative money we had. It's been better than in past years."

The Legislature has given Utah educators a $2,400 pay raise, which amounts to an average 6.3 percent pay raise, Provo School District business administrator Kerry Smith said.

Utah lawmakers promised teachers each $2,500 but fell $20 million short because the Utah State Office of Education mistakenly undercounted the number of teachers across the state and after questions arose about whether guidance counselors and audiologists are considered teachers.

Next year's contract states that Provo teachers will receive whatever amount of money the Legislature ultimately disperses.

The Legislature also planned a $1,000 bonus for teachers, but because of miscalculations the bonus will likely be $980. The state hasn't mailed the bonus checks to the district, but "whatever they give us, we'll give it to them," Smith said.

Provo teachers will additionally receive a 1.7 percent pay increase from extra money in district coffers because of retirement benefits cuts two years ago, Smith said.

And the district will give a 1.5 percent pay raise to teachers who have achieved professional milestones such as years of service or additional degrees.

Classified employees will receive an average 5 percent pay raise, Smith said, as well as a cost-of-living adjustment of about 2 percent.

Administrators will receive the $2,400 bonuses — an average 3.7 percent salary increase — a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment and a 1.5 percent raise if they have achieved professional milestones.

Health insurance cost are expected to increase 16.5 percent next year. District employees pay 20 percent of their insurance premiums; the district pays 80 percent, Smith said.

The teachers contracts do not have any changes in working conditions; however, the administrator contracts increase the number of working days each year to increase pay, Smith said.

Provo administrators this year worked 240 days. Next year, they'll work 247 days.