Here's how much Springfield Public Schools will pay starting teachers this fall
Starting pay for teachers in Springfield Public Schools will jump to $44,972 this fall, an increase of $1,772.
The raise was the result of collective bargaining between the district and the Springfield National Education Association, which was elected to represent teachers — and many other employee groups — in annual contract talks.
Travis Shaw, deputy superintendent of operations, said Springfield's new starting teacher salary is the highest in the region.
The district allocated $12.2 million to boost employee compensation as part of its 2024-25 operating budget of $362 million.
Shaw said the "equivalent of a 'step' (increase) and a 3.5%" cost-of-living or COLA raise was applied to each salary schedule.
"I say it in that way because unlike some years, this year looks very different in how it's applied and that was really around what different groups wanted and how they chose to apply that, whether it be on the front-end, on the back-end or spread throughout evenly," Shaw said.
Missouri lawmakers recently changed the minimum starting pay for teachers from $25,000 to $40,000 — although not all yet hit that benchmark — but SPS will start $4,972 higher.
The salary schedule for teachers, a set of prescribed raises based on experience and degrees, will top out at $81,129. Last year, the top pay for a teacher with a doctorate and 30 years experience was $71,043.
The base contract for teachers includes 182 work days and three holidays.
Nine of the organized employee groups are represented by the Springfield NEA and they include: educators, nurses, facility services, administrative assistants, school police, support staff, nutrition services, information technology, and specialized instructional support personnel.
Bus drivers are represented by the Teamsters Local No. 245.
"This year, much like last year, the district allowed each employee group the autonomy to utilize the funds allocated to their groups so they could prioritize the needs of their groups individually," said Laura Mullins, president of Springfield NEA.
In addition to salary and benefits, the collective bargaining agreements also address workplace conditions.
"In addition to pay, language was added to all groups around employee protection, non-discrimination for union membership, and work-related physical or mental support following a traumatic event," Mullins said in a statement to the News-Leader.
"Several areas of the contracts were reworked for clarity and further definition including seniority and processes for addressing the closing of a school."
More: Details about SPS pay raises for employees to be released Tuesday as part of FY25 budget
The budget cycle starts months before the final spending plan must be approved by the board by June 30. The new fiscal year starts July 1.
"It is required that the board vote to adopt salary schedules each year," Shaw said.
He noted the amount of "work and hours" that went into revising the agreements and the final salary schedules. The district met with Springfield NEA for 118.5 hours and the Teamsters for 10.5 hours.
The board voted 7-0 to approve the new salary schedules Tuesday.
"Thank you to all that were involved in collective bargaining. I know that took a lot of time from some individuals perhaps more than others but everybody put their heads together and collaborated," said board vice president Judy Brunner, a retired Springfield teacher and principal.
"It is never enough but it's what we can do and I think it's a good faith effort."
Board member Susan Provance, a retired Springfield teacher and coach, said she wanted to thank Superintendent Grenita Lathan and "everyone involved" in raising employee pay.
"We have to maintain our teachers," she said. "We have some of the best teachers and I feel that you've provided them something that they can go home and smile (about). This is going to help them in classroom as well."
The new starting pay
A review of the new collective bargaining agreements for the 2024-25 year show the starting pay for the following employee groups:
Administrative assistant ? $16.61 to $19.29 an hour depending on position
Bus driver ? $22.05 an hour
Bus aide ? $17.15 an hour
Custodian ? $16.07 an hour (higher for lead and head custodians)
Maintenance ? $20 an hour (higher for night or second shift)
Nutrition services worker ? $15.61 to $16.24 an hour (higher for cafeteria supervisors)
Paraprofessionals ? $16.37 or $18.29 an hour
Parent educator ? $34,281
Speech language pathologist ? $55,890
Social worker ? $49,110
School nurse ? $18.01 an hour for LPN, $41,855 for RN (higher for bachelor's, master's degrees)
School police officer ? $24.53 an hour (higher based on degrees and advanced certifications)
School police communications clerk ? $17.08 an hour
IT specialist or help desk ? $20.11 an hour
Software developer ? $60,228 a year
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield schools budget includes new starting pay for teachers
