BROWNSTOWN — Negotiations between the Brownstown Central Community School Corp. board of school trustees and Brownstown Central Classroom Teachers Association have concluded.

The result? Raises for school employees for the 2021-22 school year.

During a school board meeting Tuesday night at the administration office, trustees approved the ratification of the teachers contract and salaries and benefits for classified employees and administrators on a 6-0 vote. Trustee Paul Borden was absent.

That followed a special meeting Nov. 1 to hear public comment on the tentative agreement between the two entities, which is required per Indiana Code. No one from the public spoke in favor of or against the agreement. BCCTA President Paula Workman and negotiation chairman John Lawson attended the meeting.

Superintendent Tim Taylor said the agreement was posted on the corporation’s website under the “Board” tab for much longer than is required by law.

“We felt like we were able to have a good negotiation,” he said. “I felt like this was a very good session. I felt that everybody came to the table wanting to make a deal that was in everyone’s best interest, and I really appreciate the work that you all put in on that. I felt really good about overall the way things went, and we’re able to get some very deserved raises to our staff. I appreciate the work and the cooperation of the teachers association on that.”

During Tuesday’s meeting, board President Scott Shade and Trustee Clayton Beard both thanked the negotiation team, too.

“I know that always can go either way, but it’s really nice to see everybody work together on that,” Beard said.

For the certified personnel, the base salaries of teachers covered by the contract changed from the range of $40,000 to $75,000 to the range of $43,000 to $77,000.

To be eligible for a salary increase, a teacher must have received a highly effective or effective evaluation and been employed in the corporation for at least 120 days in the prior school year.

The amounts to be added to the teachers’ base salary are broken down by $1,000 for an evaluation rating of highly effective or effective, $1,000 for years of experience, $1,000 for a teacher with a salary less than $60,000 after an increase for evaluation and experience and $500 and advancement on the 2021-22 teacher step schedule for teachers who attain a master’s degree in a content area as defined by the Indiana Department of Education.

Any teacher whose base increase is less than $3,500 will receive the difference as a one-time stipend to be paid by Dec. 31.

Any funds otherwise allocated for teachers who were rated ineffective or improvement necessary will be equally redistributed to all teachers rated effective or highly effective. That will be in the form of a stipend that will be paid at the end of the school year.

After a teacher has taught in the corporation for one year, he or she will be eligible for a tuition reimbursement of an amount up to $2,100 for successful completion of three hours of coursework per year or the completion of a state-approved licensing certification program.

If a teacher takes more than three hours of approved work in any one year, the additional hours may accumulate so he or she will be reimbursed for tuition for a maximum of three more years.

Likewise, if the cost of the alternative licensing program exceeds $2,100, the remaining cost will be reimbursed for a maximum of three years for a total of $6,300.

According to the contract, one-time stipends also will be given to teachers hired for a hard-to-fill position ($3,000) and teachers who complete a Project Lead the Way certification or 18 graduate hours in a specific area of study for dual credit certification ($2,000).

In terms of health insurance, the board’s contributions increased from $7,350 to $7,900 annually for a single plan and from $10,300 to $12,900 for a family plan. That applies to both certified and classified employees eligible to receive health insurance.

Also for classified employees, those working 260 days received a salary increase of $2,750, while those working less than 260 days received a $2,000 salary increase with the exception of part-time employees, who will receive an equivalent hourly rate increase.

Administrators received a salary increase of $3,500. That includes the superintendent, assistant superintendent, business manager, principals, assistant principals, special education director and athletic directors.

Taylor also proposed an increase in substitute teacher pay, going from $80.69 to $90 per day. Those who hold or have held a teaching license will receive $120 per day.

“It’s getting tougher and tougher to find substitute teachers, and we want to get as good, qualified people as we can for our kids,” Taylor said before the board gave its approval.

Taylor expressed appreciation to the board for approving all of the proposals.

“Thanks to all of you for recognizing all of our employees and the good employees we have,” he said. “We have great people, and it’s nice that we approved packages to show that appreciation. Thank you all for that, and thanks to our employees for everything they do.”