KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo School employees will be getting a raise instead of the salary cut they had been told to expect when the school year began last summer.
Trustees approved several contracts last night, including one with the Teachers Union.
Things looked bleak last August with tax revenues down.
But that was before Congress approved COVID Relief. Superintendent Rita Raichoudhuri says instead of a 1.3% pay cut they will receive a 1.8% hike and two bonuses.
Trustees also approved contracts with Behavioral Specialists, Security and other support staff.
This “information” is not entirely true. Employees did not receive a raise. Teachers were “allowed” to advance on their pay scale, which is based on their years of experience. In the process, some of them moved to a new pay level — exactly as they should. This is supposed to happen every year without controversy, but lately, the school district has made it a condition of negotiation. The school district is deceptively claiming that everyone got a 1.8% pay hike by including the additional cost for the fraction of those who moved up a pay level. Most employees will only receive a one-time 1% “bonus”. This amount does not count as a pay raise, and their base salaries will remain unchanged come next year without renegotiation.