By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
Piedmont teachers and support staff will return to class this fall with higher salaries, making it the second consecutive year the district has raised pay.
After negotiations between the district and teachers, the Piedmont Board of Education voted to approve it Monday night during the regular meeting.
“We’ve been able to, with the state’s help, raise the teacher salary,” Superintendent James White said. “They’ll receive a $3,720 on that and coupled with what they received last year, almost $10,000 in two years. And our support people also will be receiving a raise. It’s a game changer for us, starting pay in our district now for an entry year (new) teacher $41,220. That’s the first time our starting pay has been above $40,000 so we’re pleased that you all approved that and we’re able to do that for our teachers.”
Board member Steven Cox said he appreciated serving the district “in a position where we can do that.”
White said the wages the district is offering is competitive for “our area.”
The Oklahoma Department of Education shows the current minimum salary requirement for a nationally board certified teacher with one year of experience is $38,193.
For the fiscal year 2018/2019 in Canadian County Banner schools paid $41,068; Darlington paid $42,416; Yukon paid $41, 819.
El Reno paid $39,176 and closer to Piedmont, Putnam City paid the highest, $43,387.
