Rochester Public Schools approves 14.4% increase in principals' contract over two-year period

Jordan Shearer, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·2 min read

May 17—ROCHESTER — The administration of Rochester Public Schools has come to an agreement with the district's principals' union over compensation, which represents a total increase of more than 14% over the previous contract.

The Rochester School Board approved the contract during its meeting on May 7, following a closed session regarding labor negotiations. The district first released a copy of the document to the Post Bulletin on May 16.

The contract covers the years 2023-24 and 2024-25. That means that principals will have to be compensated retroactively for half of the time covered in the agreement.

The first year of the contract will represent $10.58 million in costs, and the second year will be $10.89 million.

The total salary increase over the two-year period is 9.8%. Between salary and benefits, the total increase in compensation over the life of the contract is 14.4%.

There's a range of salaries for principals, depending on what "step" they're in, whether they're a head principal or assistant and what level they oversee.

Although it depends on what step they're in, high school principals generally earn more than middle school principals and middle school principals generally earn more than elementary school principals. Lead principals earn more than their assistant counterparts.

According to the salary schedule of the new contract, an assistant principal in their first step at an elementary school will earn $107,800 in the upcoming school year. On the other end of the spectrum, a lead principal in the seventh step at a high school will earn $162,700 next year.

Principals with a doctorate will be compensated $1,200 "per year above the amount on the salary schedule," according to the contract language.

Principals have the chance to advance a step on the salary schedule each year until they max out at the seventh step. Starting in their 11th year as principal, they will earn $1,500 a year in longevity pay.

In addition to the financial increases, the contract now allows principals to have district-paid bereavement leave, Juneteenth as a paid holiday and to work remotely for up to 10 days a year when teachers are not present in their schools.

The district has 16 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools. There are nearly 50 principals at those buildings between lead and assistant principals.

RPS also has a number of other schools, such as the alternative learning center, The Rochester Academy for Independent Living and the district's virtual school, MNSync Online.