Pay raises coming for New Albany Floyd County teachers, bus drivers

RAISES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. A PAY RAISE FOR TEACHERS AND A NEW CONTRACT FOR BUS DRIVERS IS AN EFFORT BY THE NEW ALBANY-FLOYD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN SOME OF ITS MOST VALUABLE EMPLOYEES. WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW, AND WE’RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROGRESS AND AND BE LIKE LIKE I MENTIONED THE OTHER DAY IN OUR BOARD MEETING IS TO TO BE A STANDARD BEARER IN THE STATE AND EVEN IN THE AREA. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR TRAVIS MADISON SAYS THERE WAS A CHANCE TO UPDATE THE CURRENT TEACHERS CONTRACT, RAISING THE STARTING SALARY FROM $46,000 TO JUST OVER 50,000 FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, KEEPING THE DISTRICT IN THE TOP 10% FOR STARTING PAY IN INDIANA. I THINK IT’S SOMETHING THAT’S IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE WE KNOW COMPETITION IS IS HIGH, LISA MCINTYRE IS PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS THE TEACHERS. IT WAS A WELCOME SURPRISE AND I’M HOPING WILL INCREASE MORALE ALL AROUND THE DISTRICT. SHE SAYS THIS NO STRINGS ATTACHED RAISE IS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL. WILL YOU BUILD THAT TRUST AND SO WHEN THIS COMES ALONG, IT’S EVEN BETTER IN MY MIND. FOR BUS DRIVERS, A NEW TWO YEAR CONTRACT BRINGS STARTING PAY THIS FALL TO $27.67 AN HOUR, WITH ANOTHER DOLLAR $0.15 RAISE NEXT FALL. DOCTOR MADISON SAYS A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT IS IMPORTANT. BUS DRIVERS AND SHORTAGES OF BUSSES AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES ARE CONTINUING TO PLAGUE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, AND WE’RE NOT IMMUNE TO THAT EITHER. IT’S NICE FOR STABILITY FOR THE STUDENTS, IT’S SONJA BROWN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT’S BUS DRIVERS ASSOCIATION, SAYS THE EASE OF NEGOTIATION REFLECTED THAT FEELING. I THINK IT HELPS US SEE OUR VALUE. UM, THAT THEY’RE WILLING TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND AND THEY WORKED WELL. WE COLLABORATED WELL, DOCTOR MADISON HOPES THESE MOVES ENTICE TEACHERS, DRIVERS AND PARENTS. THEY SEE IT’S A DISTRICT THAT TAKES CARE OF THE FOLKS THAT WORK THERE, BUT ALSO T